“Law enforcement from Arizona and other states descended on Congress on Wednesday, lobbying against a proposal to allow much heavier trucks on the nation’s highways. Backers say the idea would improve the supply chain. But Jeffrey Hawkins, president of the Arizona State Troopers Association, warned that heavier semitrailers would endanger other drivers and lead to more serious crashes. “We only have 63% of Phoenix filled, currently, with troopers,” he said outside the office of Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., following a…
KTAR 92.3 FM (AZ) | President of the Arizona State Troopers Association lobbies with the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks in Washington, DC
“Proposed federal legislation looks to increase the weight of commercial trucks and gives individual states the authority to set that weight. The President of the Arizona State Troopers Association Jeffery Hawkins went to Washington, D.C. this week to lobby with the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) to oppose the legislation. He met with members of Arizona’s congressional delegation to voice his concerns. H.R. 3372 would create a pilot program expanding the operation of commercial semitrucks with gross vehicle weight that…
Cronkite News, AZ PBS | Arizona troopers warn Congress that lifting weight limit on trucks will make highways more dangerous
“Law enforcement from Arizona and other states descended on Congress on Wednesday, lobbying against a proposal to allow much heavier trucks on the nation’s highways. Backers say the idea would improve the supply chain. But Jeffrey Hawkins, president of the Arizona State Troopers Association, warned that heavier semitrailers would endanger other drivers and lead to more serious crashes. “We only have 63% of Phoenix filled, currently, with troopers,” he said outside the office of Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., following a…
Arizona Daily Indepenent | Arizona Troopers Warn Congress That Lifting Weight Limit On Trucks Will Make Highways More Dangerous
“During the proposed pilot program, the Department of Transportation would track crashes and determine whether heavier trucks cause more injuries and fatalities – effectively turning other drivers into “guinea pigs,” according to the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks. That group comprises law enforcement, independent truck drivers, engineers, elected officials and rail freight interests that compete with the trucking industry. Hawkins’ daylong visit to the Capitol to lobby Arizona lawmakers was organized by the group. He and counterparts from Louisiana and Illinois highlighted concerns…
Yahoo News Canada | Fatalities with semitrucks are way up on American highways. Don’t let them get bigger | Opinion
“The national trend tracks with big increases in states as geographically diverse as Missouri, where deadly crashes with large trucks rose by 58.7% between 2012 and 2022; Alabama, up 45% during the same time period, with California up 67%, Texas up 41% and Georgia up 73%. But as troubling as the new figures are, yearly fatalities are likely to grow even more if some in Congress have their way. Lawmakers are currently debating at least three legislative proposals promoted by large shipping companies that would allow heavier and…
The Kansas City Star | Fatalities with semitrucks are way up in Kansas and Missouri. Don’t let them get bigger | Opinion
“Fatalities involving large trucks on Kansas and Missouri roads have spiked dramatically over the last decade, according to recently released federal data, underscoring why area lawmakers must fight renewed efforts in Washington, D.C., and our state capitols to allow even bigger semitrucks on the nation’s highways. New findings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that annual fatalities in Missouri resulting from crashes with large trucks rose by 58.7% between 2012 and 2022, from 92 fatalities to 146. In…
The Charlotte Observer (NC) | Fatalities with semitrucks are way up on American highways. Don’t let them get bigger | Opinion
“The national trend tracks with big increases in states as geographically diverse as Missouri, where deadly crashes with large trucks rose by 58.7% between 2012 and 2022; Alabama, up 45% during the same time period, with California up 67%, Texas up 41% and Georgia up 73%. But as troubling as the new figures are, yearly fatalities are likely to grow even more if some in Congress have their way. Lawmakers are currently debating at least three legislative proposals promoted by…
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX) | Fatalities with semitrucks are way up on American highways. Don’t let them get bigger | Opinion
“The summer automobile travel season is kicking off just as new federal data shows that deadly crashes involving big trucks have surged. New findings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show annual fatalities resulting from crashes with large trucks have climbed 50.5% between 2012 and 2022 – 3,944 deaths in 2012 and 5,936 in 2022. A total of 52,252 people across the nation died in collisions with big trucks during that time. NHTSA data compiled for 2022 is the…
The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC) | Fatalities with semitrucks are way up on American highways. Don’t let them get bigger | Opinion
“The national trend tracks with big increases in states as geographically diverse as Missouri, where deadly crashes with large trucks rose by 58.7% between 2012 and 2022; Alabama, up 45% during the same time period, with California up 67%, Texas up 41% and Georgia up 73%. But as troubling as the new figures are, yearly fatalities are likely to grow even more if some in Congress have their way. Lawmakers are currently debating at least three legislative proposals promoted by…
The Modesto Bee (CA) | Fatalities with semitrucks are way up on American highways. Don’t let them get bigger | Opinion
“Policymakers and lawmakers have known for years about the dangerous and deadly relationship between safety and truck weight. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation released its Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study final report to Congress. The report recommended against any increases in the size or weight of trucks. It documented serious safety problems, finding a 47% to 400% higher crash rate for heavier trucks when compared to standard 80,000-pound trucks, in limited state testing. The report concluded…