Federal proposal offers incentives to increase truck safety

A recently introduced federal bill would offer tax incentives for truckers to install GPS and other high-tech devices that could prevent accidents.  Rep. David Dreier, R-Glendora, said a big rig crash in La Canada Flintridge on April 1 inspired the legislation.

The bill would provide up to a $3,500-per-truck tax deduction - up to $350,000 a year - for trucking companies to purchase updatable GPS equipment that reflects new road closures and rule changes, automated systems that shut down trucks with overloaded brake system, and warning systems that alert truckers when their vehicles leave the lanes.

Clayton Boyce, spokesman of the American Trucking Associations, said trucking companies would support Dreier's bill, because it does not force companies to incur new expenses and offers the chance of tax breaks.

Truck accidents caused 4,995 deaths in 2006 and 106,000 injuries, according to a 2008 study.

SMSH Partner Jonathan Harris has extensive trial experience obtaining large settlements in trucking accident cases.  Please contact him at (800) 282-2122 for a free legal consultation on your case.