Page 12 - ATR 6 2018 web

NEWS IN BRIEF,
Continued from page 10

conducting hair-sample drug tests.
In 2015, the FAST Act highway bill
required the U.S. DOT to recognize
hair-sample drug tests for truck drivers
as an alternative to urine-sample tests,
and DHS was given a year to produce
guidelines for how those tests should be
conducted. Three years later, fleets are
still waiting for those guidelines.
The recent opioid bill requires DHS
to provide a report to Congress before
the end of 2018 and asks the depart-
ment to explain why the protocol hasn’t
been delivered yet and when they expect
to do so.
Though many fleets conduct hair-
sample testing, because this testing isn’t
required, carriers are performing both A separate IIHS study examined NEWTON NAMED TO ATRI’S
hair and urine testing to comply with 2012–16 police-reported crashes before RESEARCH ADVISORY
federal law. When DOT recognizes the and after retail sales began in Colorado, COMMITTEE
hair sample tests, companies won’t need Oregon and Washington. IIHS esti- Arkansas Trucking Association
to also conduct urinalysis. mates that the three states combined President Shannon Newton was
saw a 5.2 percent increase in the rate of recently named to the American
CRASHES RISE IN STATES THAT crashes per million vehicle registrations, Transportation Research Institute 2019-
LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL compared with neighboring states that 2020 Research Advisory Committee
MARIJUANA didn’t legalize marijuana sales. (RAC). Among other activities, ATRI’s
Two new studies report that The 5.2 percent increase in police- RAC is responsible for annually identi-
crashes are up by as much as 6 percent reported crash rates following legaliza- fying the top research priorities for the
in the first states to legalize mari- tion of recreational marijuana use is trucking industry.
juana—Colorado Nevada, Oregon and consistent with the 6 percent increase RAC members represent a diverse
Washington—compared with neigh- in insurance claim rates estimated by cross-section of trucking industry
boring states that haven’t legalized HLDI. stakeholders including motor carriers,
marijuana for recreational use. The “The new IIHS-HLDI research on industry suppliers, commercial drivers,
research from the Insurance Institute marijuana and crashes indicates that shippers, law enforcement, academia
for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway legalizing marijuana for all uses is hav- and government.
Loss Data Institute (HLDI) come as ing a negative impact on the safety of “We use the research conducted by
campaigns to decriminalize marijuana our roads,” says IIHS-HLDI President ATRI to inform the agenda of Arkansas
gain traction with voters and legislators David Harkey. “States exploring legal- Trucking Association and to educate our
in the U.S., and Canada begins allowing izing marijuana should consider this policy makers every day,” says Newton.
recreational use of marijuana. effect on highway safety.” “It is an honor to serve on the Research
In one study, HLDI analysts esti- The two new studies were presented Advisory Committee and have a voice
mate that the frequency of collision at the Combating Alcohol- and Drug- in the direction of trucking’s research
claims per insured vehicle year rose a Impaired Driving Summit, hosted by next year.”
combined 6 percent following the start IIHS and HLDI at the Vehicle Research Ms. Karen Rasmussen, CEO of
of retail sales of recreational marijuana Center. The summit brings together HELP, Inc., was reappointed to serve as
in Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and highway safety and law enforcement chair of the RAC.
Washington, compared with the control experts to discuss the prevalence and “RAC members serve a critical
states of Idaho, Montana, Utah and associated risk of alcohol- and drug- role in developing and prioritizing
Wyoming. The combined-state analy- impaired driving, as well as strategies to research proposals that address the
sis is based on collision loss data from combat impaired driving. trucking industry’s top challenges.
January 2012 through October 2017. Congratulations to those appointed by

12 Issue 6 2018 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT