Editorial: Time for new rules on truckers’ hours

Tuesday, Aug. 10, 1999 | 9:13 a.m.

For 60 years federal regulations that limit how many hours truckers can drive have not been changed, but the Associated Press reported last week that the Federal Highway Administration is expected to issue new regulations this fall. Truckers now can drive 10 hours in one stretch, but after that they must stop for at least eight hours. Once that rest period ends, however, they can start up driving for another 10 hours. But under the rules being considered, truckers would have to be off duty for a minimum of 14 hours in a 24-hour period, ensuring adequate rest.

The government needs to be sensitive to the financial impact new rules could have on trucking companies. And while more rest is needed, it is just as important to make sure that enough rest stops on federal highways are provided to meet any new requirements (one trucking company executive in the AP story noted an alarming trend of stops being shut down in recent years instead of more being opened). Still, new rules are long overdue and should be strengthened. After all, there were 5,302 people killed in 1998 in truck-related accidents; it's estimated that more than 3 percent of truck-related accidents can be attributed to sleepy drivers. The government has a responsibility to make sure that truckers get enough sleep, providing more safety for all who travel our nation's roads.