The “Human Element” in Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety

Abstract

Highway freight and passenger transportation are vital contributors to national economic health and productivity. Although there has been considerable research into the design and operation of the highway system and the vehicles that use it, there has been relatively little concentrated research concerning the truck and bus driver – the human element responsible for moving the freight and passengers safely.

The Federal Highway Administration's Office of Motor Carriers has developed a comprehensive multi-year plan to address the issues of driver proficiency, medical qualifications, and fitness for duty. The core of this plan will be a series of high-quality and scientifically sound research projects. The results of these projects will form the basis for regulatory changes that will be more technically defensible, better reflect the realities of the operating environments, and, to the extent possible, be based on performance standards.