Fall 2024

View this email in your browser Celebrating One Year: Institute for Safer Trucking and Road Safe America What happens when you merge two of the leading truck safety advocacy organizations in the U.S.? You get a more impactful organization that has more resources, increased bandwidth, and streamlined operating costs. Looking ahead, there are many opportunities to improve safety in the trucking industry. IST will focus on reforming the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s new entrant program, working with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and law enforcement on Beyond Compliance, and advocating for the use of more safety technology on large trucks such as dual-facing cameras. Check your email to stay informed of our progress as we move forward with truck safety improvements that will benefit all of us on the roads. Photos from Advocacy Day with the National Safety Council in Washington, D.C. The Institute for Safer Trucking recently participated in the National Safety Council's 2024 Capitol Hill Roadway Safety Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C. This event brought together advocacy groups, including the Road to Zero Coalition, Families for Safe Streets, and Stop Distractions, as well as individuals from across the nation to share personal stories and emphasize the critical importance of road safety to federal policymakers. Pictured on the left: IST Board Members and Road Safe America Co-Founders, Susan and Steve Owings attend Advocacy Day.  Pictured on the right: IST Board Members (L to R) on the steps of the DOT during Advocacy Day: Steve and Susan Owings, Devin Neither (Tracy’s daughter), Tracy Quinichett Whitehead, Laurie Higginbotham and John Lannen Legislative News Advocacy for Truck Safety Technologies IST recently sent a letter to the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit to express concerns about the delays in implementing rulemakings to mandate the use speed limiters and require automatic emergency braking systems in large trucks. Both of these technologies are readily available and will drastically improve truck safety. In our letter, IST urged the subcommittee to expedite the adoption of these safety measures to protect all road users and prevent further unnecessary tragedies.  Regulatory Spotlight Reflective Tape Rulemaking Support In a strategic move to support ongoing safety improvements, IST withdrew its petition to require reflective tape on Single Unit Trucks. Instead, the Institute has thrown its full support behind a long overdue rulemaking that would mandate the use of reflective tape on these vehicles. By aligning with the current regulatory process, IST believes this collaborative approach will accelerate the adoption of this essential safety feature which will enhance the visibility of trucks and reduce the risk of collisions, especially in low-light conditions. Progress on Underride Protection The Advisory Committee on Underride Protections, which includes IST Principal Harry Adler, submitted its final report to Congress and the Department of Transportation. The Committee's recommendations aim to enhance the safety of passenger vehicles and vulnerable road users in collisions with large trucks by addressing deficiencies in current requirements for underride protections. While the Committee did reach consensus on several issues, IST remains committed to advocating for the swift implementation of the recommendations for better underride protections that were included in the final report. Your Gift Fuels Our Mission Help us make traveling on our roads safer. IST is working to improve truck safety so we can all get to our destinations safely. We need your support to realize our goals and fuel our mission. To make a tax-deductible gift, click the button below or mail a check to: Institute for Safer Trucking P.O. Box 460267 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33346 MAKE A GIFT IST and Dave Fons Memorial Fund IST is honored to partner with the Dave Fons Memorial Fund which was founded to carry on the legacy of Dave Fons' commitment to truck safety through advocacy and education.  Working together, our voices are amplified and our message for truck safety is expanded.   IST was a proud sponsor for the Dave Fons Memorial Fund Golf Tournament held at the Mystic Creek Golf Course in Milford, Michigan. Pictured L to R: Courtney Sprague (Dave Fons’ daughter) and Garrett Fons (Dave Fons’ son).   IST on the GO! Monthly Zoom Meet Ups AUGUST: Harry is speaking at the Indiana Trial Lawyers Conference in Indianapolis. SEPTEMBER: John is attending the National Safety Council’s Safety Congress and Expo in Orlando. John, Harry, and Jen are attending the Academy of Truck Accidents Attorney’s annual conference in Nashville. OCTOBER: IST has been invited to attend the Together for Safer Roads and Vision Zero event in NYC Join Jen Walsh, IST Director and Principal, as she hosts monthly Zoom Meetups featuring trending topics related to truck safety. Meet and interact with industry leaders, advocates from other safety groups, and professional bereavement counselors. We meet virtually on the second Thursday of the month at 4:30pm EST. Look for an email invitation in your inbox. Upcoming Monthly Meetups:   September 12 October 10 November 14 Our mailing address: 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, #7000, Washington, DC 20006 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe