Click It or Ticket!
Read the latest Safety Bulletin!
In this issue:
- CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week Is Scheduled for July 7-13
- Registration Open for the 2024 Idealease/NPTC Safety Seminars!
As you prepare for the Memorial Day holiday, it's important to remember the significance of wearing seat belts, especially for drivers and passengers. The Click It or Ticket campaign, running from May 20 to June 2, will involve increased law enforcement to emphasize the importance of seat belt usage and the legal consequences for not doing so.
Rising Fatalities Due to Non-Seat Belt Use
It's worth noting that fatal crashes on American roads are on the rise, and one of the contributing factors is the failure to wear seat belts. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is committed to promoting seat belt usage among commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and occupants as part of their efforts to ensure safety.
FMCSA’s Campaign: Y I Buckle Up
The FMCSA's Y I Buckle Up campaign is designed to remind drivers of the benefits of wearing seat belts, including enhanced crash protection and legal compliance. According to the regulations, seat belts are mandatory for all seating positions in property-carrying CMVs, and a CMV with a seat belt assembly installed at the driver's seat must not be driven unless the driver is properly restrained, as stated in 49 CFR 392.16.
Alarming Statistics
In 2022, 916 commercial truck drivers lost their lives in crashes. Among them, 635 (69.3%) were unrestrained at the time of the crash, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. This marks the second-highest percentage of unrestrained drivers killed since 2017. These concerning figures, presented at the FMCSA’s annual research forum on April 24-25, have sparked significant apprehension regarding the involvement of unbelted drivers in fatal truck accidents.
Importance of Buckling Up
Remembering to buckle up is really important, especially for truck drivers. While some truck drivers don't wear seat belts, many of them make safety a priority by always buckling up. Here are some reasons why wearing a seat belt is so crucial.
It Keeps You Safe: Staying safe on the roads is really important, and wearing a seat belt is a big part of that.
It Helps You Make It Home Safely: Getting back home to your family, friends, or pets is what matters most, and wearing a seat belt can help make sure you get there safely.
It's the Law: Truck drivers take pride in driving safely and following the rules. Wearing a seat belt is not just about safety, it's also about being a professional driver.
Promoting Seat Belt Safety
Please help keep our roads and the CMV community safe by wearing your seat belt. Sharing this critical safety message is also important—view and download educational materials and other safety tips below.
Tips for Truck and Bus Drivers
Essential Safety Belt Use
Using a safety belt is one of the most cost-effective, easy, and crucial ways to protect CMV drivers. Safety belts also help prevent serious injury to others, as buckled drivers can better control their vehicles in emergencies.
Seat Belt Usage Concerns
When reviewing customer CSA SMS scores, we frequently notice violations for not wearing seat belts. This violation carries a point weighting of 7 and has a negative impact on the carrier’s “Unsafe Driving” basic score in the CSA SMS. Drivers who do not wear seat belts pose an unnecessary risk, which can lead to potential roadside inspections.
Tips for Increasing Seat Belt Usage:
- Implement a company policy requiring seat belt use in all company vehicles while in motion.
- Define disciplinary actions for seat belt violations in your company policy.
- Order trucks with bright orange or yellow seat belts for better visibility.
- Consider a company seat belt life insurance policy, paying benefits if a driver is killed in an accident while wearing a seat belt.
Does Your Company Driver Policy Address Seat Belt Usage?
Seat Belt Myths
MYTH 1: Safety belts are uncomfortable and restrict movement.
FACT: A Transportation Research Board study found many commercial drivers do not find safety belts uncomfortable or restrictive once adjusted correctly.
MYTH 2: Wearing a safety belt is a personal decision that doesn't affect anyone else.
FACT: Not wearing a safety belt affects family and other motorists since it helps you maintain control in a crash. Federal regulations require commercial vehicle drivers to buckle up.
MYTH 3: Safety belts prevent escape from a burning or submerged vehicle.
FACT: Safety belts can prevent unconsciousness, improving escape chances. Fires or submersion occur in less than 5% of fatal large truck crashes.
MYTH 4: It's better to be thrown clear in a crash.
FACT: Vehicle occupants are four times more likely to die if ejected. In 2004, 168 truck drivers died when ejected from their cabs.
MYTH 5: It takes too much time to fasten a safety belt 20 times a day.
FACT: Buckling up takes about three seconds, totaling only one minute for 20 times a day.
MYTH 6: Good truck drivers don't need to wear safety belts.
FACT: Even good drivers may face crashes caused by bad drivers, weather, mechanical failure, or tire blowouts. Safety belts prevent injuries and fatalities by preventing ejection and protecting the head and spine.
MYTH 7: A large truck will protect you; safety belts are unnecessary.
FACT: In 2022, 634 out of 916 commercial vehicle truck drivers killed were not wearing safety belts.
MYTH 8: Safety belts aren't necessary for low-speed driving.
FACT: In a 30 mph collision, an unbelted person hits the windshield at 30 mph, equivalent to falling from a three-story building.
MYTH 9: A lap belt offers sufficient protection.
FACT: The lap and shoulder belt design keeps a driver securely behind the wheel, improving control and minimizing serious injury or death.
CVSA Schedules Operation Safe Driver Week for July 7-13
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has scheduled Operation Safe Driver Week from July 7-13, 2024. This program aims to promote safe driving among both regular car drivers and commercial truck drivers through education, enforcement, and interactions with law enforcement. This year, the focus will be on making sure trucks have the right safety equipment and preventing drunk or drugged driving.
Registration Now Open for the 2024 Idealease/NPTC Safety Seminars!
Driving Safety in 2024
Idealease and the National Private Truck Council (NPTC) are excited to announce the opening of registration for the 2024 Safety Seminars. These one-day seminars will focus on crucial topics such as safety data analysis, basic safety and compliance, regulation changes, and CSA.
Who Can Attend: These seminars are open to all Idealease customers, potential customers, and NPTC members, and are provided at no charge.
Seminar Highlights:
- Gain insights into safety practices and compliance regulations.
- Learn about the latest advancements in safety technology.
- Understand CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) and its impact on your operations.
Why Attend: Whether you're a novice or an experienced transportation professional, these seminars offer valuable information to enhance your safety practices.
Registration Details: Seminars are currently available for registration, with venues secured for the following locations:
Spring 2024
- 4/10/24: Sun Prairie, WI
- 4/18/24: Frankfort, KY
- 5/9/24: Tampa, FL
- 5/21/24: Portland, OR
- 5/23/24: Santa Rosa, CA
Fall 2024
- 10/1/24: Eugene, OR
- 10/3/24: San Leandro, CA
- 10/9/24: Baltimore, MD
- 10/17/24: Nashville, TN
10/28/24: Stockton, CA
Note: If you don't see a seminar in your area listed yet, don't worry. Registration availability will be updated weekly as venues are secured. Keep an eye on this bulletin for the latest updates. To register for an upcoming seminar in 2024, click on the following link: Safety Seminar Registration. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your safety knowledge and practices in 2024. Register today!
*The Idealease Safety Bulletin is provided for Idealease locations and their customers and is not to be construed as a complete or exhaustive source of compliance or safety information. The Idealease Safety Bulletin is advisory in nature and does not warrant, guarantee, or otherwise certify compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, or guidelines of any local, state, or Federal agency and/or governing body, or industry standards.