According to preliminary findings by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), since the new hours of service (HOS) rules took effect carriers are reporting fewer accidents.
“Our data set for this research represents over 100,000 drivers and over 10.5-billion fuel tax miles,” said Rebecca Brewster, ATRI president & COO. “We solicited carrier input and also surveyed drivers. The carrier data shows a 3.7% reduction in the collision rate per million miles under the new HOS. We are also seeing an injury rate reduction of 12.6% per million miles. In other words, our research indicates that the new HOS are having a positive impact on highway safety.”
ATRI is organized as a not-for-profit research trust and is part of the American Trucking Associations Federation. In November 2004, they initiated independent research to gauge the difference in collision and driver injury rates for 2003 and 2004, before and after the change in HOS.
The complete report is slated for October.
