What Is the Department of Transportation (DOT)?
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is the federal agency responsible for planning and coordinating federal transportation projects and setting safety regulations for all modes of transportation in the United States.
According to the official description, DOT’s mission is to “Ensure our Nation has the safest, most efficient, and modern transportation system in the world, which improves the quality of life for all American people and communities, from rural to urban, and increases the productivity and competitiveness of American workers and businesses.” The DOT plays a crucial role in setting and enforcing regulations that affect transportation safety, infrastructure development, and environmental sustainability.
DOT’s main activities include funding infrastructure projects, conducting research to improve transportation systems, and implementing policies to enhance safety and accessibility. It also addresses issues such as traffic management, vehicle safety standards, and the environmental impact of transportation. Understanding the Department of Transportation is critical to comprehending how federal policy influences the everyday movement of people and goods, shaping economic development and public safety nationwide.
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Are Electric Scooters Legal In Pennsylvania?
Electric scooters, or e-scooters, have quickly become a popular mode of transportation on the roadways of many busy U.S. cities. They’re convenient, affordable, and an eco-friendly alternative to cars. Like e-bikes, companies like Lime and Bird provide low-speed e-scooter-sharing services in cities worldwide. But while electric scooters are legal in many other places, Pennsylvania has needed to catch up in getting on board.
Current Legal Status of Electric Scooters in Pennsylvania
Right now, Pennsylvania state law has strict rules regarding e-scooters. Pennsylvania has some hurdles, unlike some states, such as California, Texas, and Washington, where you can easily rent or own one and ride freely.
Pilot programs in some cities
Pilot programs in some citiesCertain cities in Pennsylvania have started pilot programs to evaluate the potential impact of electric scooters, even though they still need to be fully legalized statewide. In places like Pittsburgh, companies can offer electric scooter rentals under strict rules and local laws that help city governments understand how scooters affect safety, […]
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How Long Can Truck Drivers Drive Without Resting?
Studies suggest that 30 to 40 percent of all truck accidents result from driver fatigue. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving contributes to more than 50,000 accidents per year, resulting in serious injury and death.
Knowing how unsafe drowsy driving can be, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has created regulations commercial truck drivers must follow for how many consecutive hours they can be behind the wheel before needing a break.
Hours of Service Rules for Truck Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has created hours of service regulations (HOS) for both property-carrying and passenger-carrying drivers. These rules are meant to protect truck drivers from overwork while also limiting adverse driving conditions for other motor vehicles.
It’s important to understand that drivers do not have set hours like we may have in a 9-to-5 job setting. […]
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Do Truck Drivers Really Watch TV While They Are Driving?
Understanding why truck drivers get distracted can help us tackle the issue and promote safer driving in the trucking industry. Distractions often come from long hours on the road, the repetitive nature of driving, and the ease of accessing technology. These factors put the driver and everyone else sharing the road in danger.
Reasons Behind Distracted Driving Among Truck Drivers
Truck drivers often spend long hours behind the steering wheel, covering hundreds of miles each day. This can lead to monotonous conditions, particularly at night or when driving through remote areas with little variation in scenery. The mental fatigue of a trucking job can be extreme, and from these extended hours, some truck drivers seek out distractions to break up the monotony.
Hours of service regulations are designed to limit the time a truck driver can spend on the road without rest, reducing the hazard of fatigued driving. […]
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How Many Truck Accidents Are There in a Year?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there are approximately 500,000 truck accidents in the United States each year. This substantial number of accidents underscores the critical importance of understanding the factors contributing to truck crashes and the measures needed to enhance road safety for all users.
Trucks are a common sight on US roadways. Commercial vehicles alone make up a significant portion. The trucking industry has a duty of care in transporting billions of tons of freight each year, a major part of the US economy. Over 3.5 million American truck driversare employed in the United States, and trucks make up 5% of all registered vehicles in the US. If that does not sound high to you, consider how heavy trucks are. A big rig with a tractor-trailer may weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average car weighs less than 10,000. […]
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PA Governor Signs New Child Car Seat Law
Updated April 2024
Over the past few years, Pennsylvania has changed many of its laws about using child seats. In June 2016, then Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed legislation requiring all children under 2 years of age to ride in rear-facing child car seats in the vehicle’s back seat.
The previous law stated only that all children under 4 years of age must be restrained in a safety seat – it did not specify rear or front-facing, and did not state that children that young must ride in the back seat.
The law has been updated to match the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s guidelines. According to the updated law, children under the age of 8, less than 57 inches tall, or less than 80 pounds, are required to be placed in a car or booster seat as approved by the U.S. […]
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