Safety Effectiveness Evaluation of Detection and Control of Unsafe Interstate Commerical Drivers Through the National Driver Register, State Driver Licensing Policies, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations

摘要

The National Transportation Safety Board investigated 41 heavy truck accidents involving suspected problem commercial drivers and reviewed data from three previous investigations of heavy truck accidents. The 44 commercial drivers' nationwide driving records, compiled by making inquiries to the States, listed a total of 63 driver licenses held, 98 license suspensions, 104 traffic accidents, and 456 traffic convictions. The Board also made inquiries to the States concerning State policies on the use of the National Driver Register (NDR), driver licensing, and driver records; reviewed studies and reports by other organizations; analyzed sections of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations pertaining to driver disqualification and driver screening; and analyzed the potential value of the NDR as a tool for the detection and control of problem commercial drivers. The Board found that, in spite of three levels of commercial driver screening--the NDR, State driver licensing policies, and screening by motor carriers pursuant to Federal regulations, problem commercial drivers continue to be licensed by the States and employed by motor carriers to operate heavy trucks and other commercial vehicles. As a result of this evaluation, the Board recommends that the Congress enact legislation to revise the NDR. The Board also issued safety recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation, to certain States, and to the Federal Highway Administration, for improvements in the detection and control of problem commercial drivers.