34-Hour Restart Study Results Uphold Less Restrictive Standards for Drivers

The long awaited results of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) 34-hour restart study have finally been revealed and confirm that the regulations requiring two mandatory 1 A.M. - 4 A.M. periods and the once per week restart do not significantly improve truck driver safety. The requirements which were originally initiated in July 2013 with little scientific support will not be reinstated. The requirements were suspended in December 2014 by Congress, pending the results of a study conducted by the FMCSA to determine if the more restrictive requirements afforded greater safety for drivers. The study determined that this isn’t the case, and the original requirements prior to July 2013 will remain in effect.

While the study has not been formerly released, the results were confirmed in a letter from the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General. The DOT is currently finalizing the results of the study before submitting their report to Congress as mandated by the 2014-passed budget act.

The study, which was conducted by the FMCSA and Virginia Tech, followed over 200 drivers divided into two groups, one which maintained the current, less restrictive requirements, the other which were required to include two 1 A.M. - 4 A.M. periods and a limit of one restart per week.

The letter from the OIG stated that the study “did not explicitly identify a net benefit from the use of the two suspended provisions of the restart rule on driver operations, safety, fatigue and health.” Investigators examined driver schedules and safety indicators, including collisions and near crashes, and driver well-being such as alertness and health.

The 2013 rules received significant criticism when they were released due to accusations that it compromised safety by forcing more drivers into heavy early morning traffic, and required two A.M. periods regardless of whether drivers had already been off for 34 hours.

Source:
OverdriveOnline.com