More research into the crash risk of truck drivers under age 21 should be conducted before allowing them to drive between states, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (“IIHS”) said in a recent regulatory comment.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) requested comments on a possible pilot program to allow 18- to 20-year-old drivers to operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. These drivers already can operate commercial vehicles within state lines.
The FMCSA currently is running a pilot program to allow 18- to 20-year-old drivers with experience driving trucks in the military to operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. The FMCSA should wait for the results of that pilot before implementing a broader one for drivers without military experience, Eric Teoh, IIHS senior statistician, wrote in the comment.
In addition, Mr. Teoh suggested that the agency conduct a study looking at crash risk by age of truck drivers operating within state lines.
If the second pilot program goes forward, the FMSCA should require participants to demonstrate substantial experience driving trucks within state boundaries, along with a clean driving record, Mr. Teoh wrote.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].