NTSB Recommendations Include Video Recorders, Collision Prevention
This week, the NTSB released its report on an August 2010 accident on Interstate 44 in Gray Summit, Mo. A pickup truck ran into the back of a bobtail truck-tractor that had slowed for a construction zone. The pickup truck, in turn, was struck from behind by a school bus. That school bus was then hit by a second school bus that had been following. Two people died and 38 were injured.
The NTSB's investigation revealed that the pickup driver sent and received 11 text messages in the 11 minutes preceding the accident. The last text was received moments before the pickup struck the tractor-trailer.
There has been a lot of coverage of the board's recommendation in that report to ban driver use of "personal electronic devices," such as cell phones, while operating a motor vehicle. But there were many more recommendations, as well, some targeting commercial vehicles. These are only recommendations; NTSB rulings do not have the force of law.
The board recommended that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration require all heavy commercial vehicles to be equipped with video event recorders that capture data in connection with the driver and the outside environment and roadway in the event of a crash or sudden deceleration event.
The board also wants FMCSA to require motor carriers to "review and use video event recorder information in conjunction with other performance data to verify that driver actions are in accordance with company and regulatory rules and procedures essential to safety."
Had the Volvo tractor, the two school buses, and the motorcoach been required to have video event recorders, the events leading up to this accident could have been more definitively assessed, noted the board. In addition, the use of video event recorder data for managing driver behavior could assist school bus operators in identifying driver performance issues before they lead to accidents.
Chevy Gmc Truck Show In California - News
LOS ANGELES, Dec 14, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Image Design and Communications, a Southern California Trade Show Exhibit House, was recently awarded the design and build project for General Motors Talent Acquisition Group headquartered in Detroit,
Sales of Ford's SUVs climbed 29 percent and F-Series trucks increased 24 percent. GM's deliveries of Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups surged 34 percent and 22 percent, respectively, and Chrysler's Jeep brand sales soared 50 percent.
Nissan rolled out a concept version of the JX model at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance luxury car show in California in August, then followed with the production version in Los Angeles in late November. The two were substantially the same, though.
GMC made some of the world's first electric vehicles, including this 1913 model. These trucks had many uses, including furniture delivery. GMC's early electric trucks, including the 1914 model 2B and model 4A shown here, were relied upon by Detroit's
24, 2011 photo, shows the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups assembly line at the Flint Assembly in Flint, Mich. GM reported Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, strong sales of small cars as well as pickup trucks.