If you’re like most Americans, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about policy shifts within lesser federal government agencies. Because… well, why would you? But, sometimes, it is a good idea to read up on changes that are being made at this level of government due to the ways in which they have the potential to impact “everyday” Americans.
For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently made changes to its Safety Measurement System(SMS) website. This site is primarily utilized by regulation enforcement professionals and large commercial motor carrier companies.
So, why is it relevant to you, your life and the lives of the people you care about?
Facilitation of a broader crash-reduction goal
The FMCSA is the federal agency most directly tasked with reducing the crash rates of large commercial vehicles, including trucks and buses. It utilizes its SMS site to reduce the likelihood that crashes will occur by identifying particularly dangerous carriers and marking those who engage in particularly significant safety violations for intervention. The changes to the SMS system aim to facilitate this broader crash-reduction goal.
By understanding how safety risks are measured and tracked at the federal level, you can approach news related to truck safety in a more informed manner. While that might not seem like a big deal, the rate at which truck accidentsoccur and the devastation they cause are issues of concern for all road travelers in the U.S. By better understanding what’s happening, you may be inspired to make safer choices when traveling around these massive vehicles.