“Recently released crash and fatality data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underscores dangerous and deadly trends gripping the nation’s roads. According to NHTSA, there was a 2 percent increase in fatalities in crashes involving large trucks and a 3.7 percent increase in injuries from 2021 to 2022, the most recent year of complete data. There were 168,816 large truck crashes in 2022, resulting in 76,550 injuries and 5,936 fatalities. But even more alarming is the dramatic increase over…
Fountain Hill Times (Maricopa County, AZ) | Smith: Data points to heavier trucks making roads more dangerous
“Congressional proposals to increase truck size and weight limits are out of touch with the reality of the 2022 NHTSA data and the findings of the 2016 Department of Transportation’s Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study, which called for no increases in relevant truck size and weight laws due to a lack of data. This study found that heavier trucks had anywhere from 47 percent to 400 percent higher crash rates in limited state testing. That finding should be…
Daily Independent (Sun City, AZ) | Smith: Data points to heavier trucks making roads more dangerous
“Recently released crash and fatality data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underscores dangerous and deadly trends gripping the nation’s roads. According to NHTSA, there was a 2 percent increase in fatalities in crashes involving large trucks and a 3.7 percent increase in injuries from 2021 to 2022, the most recent year of complete data. There were 168,816 large truck crashes in 2022, resulting in 76,550 injuries and 5,936 fatalities. But even more alarming is the dramatic increase over…
NJ.com | Heavier trucks could be coming to N.J. Will roads and bridges be able to support them?
“Heavier trucks could start using the nation’s highways and bridges if a bill to increase tractor trailer weights from 40 to 45 tons passes Congress. The measure, which was voted out of a congressional committee in May 2023, is being supported by a coalition of shippers, manufacturers, agribusinesses and trade groups that contends allowing heavier trucks would make those industries more productive. Opponents, which include several members of the New Jersey congressional delegation and Hunterdon County commissioners, are concerned about…
The Politics Watcher | Arizona Law Enforcement Opposes Proposal for Heavier Trucks in Congress
“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. The presence of law enforcement officers from multiple states highlights the widespread opposition to the proposed legislation…” Read More+ …
MSN | Heavier trucks could be coming to N.J. Will roads and bridges be able to support them?
“Heavier trucks could start using the nation’s highways and bridges if a bill to increase tractor trailer weights from 40 to 45 tons passes Congress. The measure, which was voted out of a congressional committee in May 2023, is being supported by a coalition of shippers, manufacturers, agribusinesses and trade groups that contends allowing heavier trucks would make those industries more productive. Opponents, which include several members of the New Jersey congressional delegation and Hunterdon County commissioners, are concerned about…
Hoodline | Arizona State Troopers Urge Congress to Reject Higher Truck Weight Limits, Citing Increased Highway Risks
“Arizona and other state troopers are making their presence known on Capitol Hill this week, voicing strong opposition to any legislation that would permit heavier trucks on U.S. highways. Among the law enforcement pushing back is Jeffrey Hawkins, president of the Arizona State Troopers Association, who, according to Arizona Public Media, stressed that the proposal to increase semitrailers weight limit will exacerbate dangers on the roads and lead to more severe accidents. “We only have 63% of Phoenix filled, currently, with…
Arizona Public Media | 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…
Eastern Arizona Courier | Arizona troopers warn Congress that lifting weight limit on trucks will make highways more dangerous
“Hawkins met with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and as many representatives as he could. The consensus was positive, he said, and lawmakers appreciated explanations about the difference 11,000 pounds can make. Tractor-trailers were involved in 2,760 crashes in Arizona in 2022, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. That includes crashes of tractors not pulling a trailer. In 2022 there were 111 fatal collisions, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.” Read More+…
Herald Review (Sierra Viesta, AZ) | 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…