Close to 500 Deaths Prevented in 2012 due to Federal Truck Roadside Inspections, FMCSA Reports

Unsafe trucks and semi-tractor trailers can cause incredible harm.  In 2012¹, federal roadside inspection activities and enforcement programs prevented an estimated 472 deaths, according to a recent announcement from regulators at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

This finding was reportedly generated from the FMCSA’s Roadside Intervention Effectiveness Model (RIEM), which also reportedly discovered that, in 2012, federal inspection and enforcement activities:

• Prevented at least 14,000 motor vehicle accidents
• Prevented close to 9,000 injuries that would have occurred in those crashes.

A Quick Look at FMCSA Roadside Inspection Activities

According to the FMCSA, each year, officials carry out at least 3.5 million inspections on commercial vehicles, including trucks and commercial buses. These activities, which reportedly occur in every U.S. state (including the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories), generally involve:

• Inspecting commercial vehicles to ensure that they are in full compliance with all applicable federal regulations
• Reviewing commercial motorists’ records to verify these drivers are also abiding by all necessary regulations.

Should a vehicle and/or its driver fail an inspection due to “serious violations,” an Out-of-Service order is issued to the vehicle and/or the motorist. And these orders will remain in effect until the appropriate action is taken to correct the issue/violation.

The primary goals of these activities, as regulators have pointed out, are to:

• Remove dangerous commercial vehicles and/or drivers from the road
• Encourage motor carriers and motorists to “operate in compliance with federal safety regulations”
• Reduce the incidence of commercial vehicle crashes and, in doing so, prevent injuries and save lives.

Regulators Weigh In on the FMCSA’s RIEM Findings

Commenting on the FMCSA’s findings, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has stated:

Over the last several decades, we’ve made tremendous strides in reducing the number of traffic fatalities and injuries on our nation’s roadways… The roadside safety inspection and traffic enforcement programs exemplify our commitment to continue to raise the bar on safety and build upon our progress.

Similarly, FMCSA Acting Administrator Scott Darling has explained that:

Our analysis demonstrates that inspectors at roadside and state troopers conducting traffic enforcement are making a vital difference to prevent crashes.  In addition, the truck and bus industries are working every day to comply with federal safety regulations designed to make sure that everyone reaches their destination safe and sound.

Contact Highlands Ranch & Denver Personal Injury Lawyer D.J. Banovitz

If you have been hurt in truck or bus crash – or in any type of motor vehicle accident, you can turn to Highlands Ranch & Denver Personal Injury Lawyer D.J. Banovitz for honest answers about your options for compensation and justice.

To discuss your potential case and options for financial recovery, contact Attorney D.J. Banovitz by calling (303) 300-5060 or by sending our firm an email via the contact form on this page.

From offices based in Englewood, Colorado, Attorney D.J. Banovitz provides the highest quality representation to injured people throughout Arapahoe County, Denver County, Douglas County and the state of Colorado.

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1: The most recent year for which complete data is available