July’s Operation Safe Driver Week focuses on speeding
-- Continued --
are busy transporting vital goods to stores, it’s more important than ever to monitor our roadways for safe transport.” Historically, drivers’ actions have contributed to 94% of all traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Traffic Safety Facts report. And although NHTSA’s 2018 highway crash fatality data showed a 2.4% decline in overall fatalities, the number of fatal crashes involving large trucks increased by 0.9%. “While, of course, we’re pleased to see a decrease in the overall number of fatalities, it was also devastating to learn that the number of fatalities involving large trucks increased. Any increase whatsoever in roadway fatalities is unacceptable,” said Samis. Data shows that traffic enforcement interactions between drivers and law enforcement reduces targeted problematic behaviors. CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week aims to reduce high-risk driving behaviors through traffic enforcement strategies. In addition to a focus on speeding, examples of other dangerous driver behaviors that law enforcement will track during Operation Safe Driver Week include distracted driving, failure to use a seatbelt, following too closely, improper lane change, reckless or aggressive driving, failure to obey traffic control devices, evidence of drunk or drugged driving, etc.
Washington TRUCKING FAST FACTS
TRUCKING DRIVES THE ECONOMY CAREERS
SMALL BUSINESS EMPHASIS
139,450
79.9% of Washington commu-
16,670
Trucking industry jobs in Washington (2017)
That’s 1 in 20 jobs in the state
TRANSPORTING THE ESSENTIALS
nities depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods.
Trucking companies located in Washington (2017). Primarily small,
locally owned businesses, these companies are served by a wide range of supporting businesses.
80
Washington Trucking Association members put safety first through: Improved driver training Investment in advanced safety technologies Active participation in industry safety initiatives at the local, state and national levels
• Total trucking industry wages paid in Washington in 2017 exceeded $7.7 billion, with an average annual trucking industry salary of $54,930.
• Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers held 32,030 jobs with an average annual salary of $46,990 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018).
(2012)
SAFETY MATTERS SAFETY FIRST
Percent of total manufactured tonnage transported by trucks in the state. That’s 190,292 tons per day.
COMPETITIVE WAGES
CONTINUALLY IMPROVING 2016 fatal crash rate per 100 million Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT):
COMMITMENT TO SHARING THE ROAD WA
USA
1.02 1.34
71%
The amount by which the U.S. large truck fatal crash rate has dropped between 1975 and 2016.
Updated December 2018 with most recent data available.
The Share the Road program sends a team of professional truck drivers to communities around the country to teach car drivers about truck blind spots, stopping distances and how to merge safely around large trucks, all designed to reduce the number of car-truck accidents.
@WATruckingAssn
wtaontheroad.com
TRUCKING NEWS ~ PAGE 25
