# Presentation: 356174

## Slide 1

## CMV SAFETY BELT USAGE IMPROVEMENT PLAN

**CMV SAFETY BELT USAGE IMPROVEMENT PLAN**

**Phase I:****	****Partnership **
**Phase II: ****	****Analysis **
**Phase III: ****	****Education and **
**	****	****Outreach**
**Phase IV:****	****Increase Enforcement**
**Phase V: ****	****Enforcement/Education Pilot ****	****	****Program**

**Notes:**
The plan continues the momentum established at Safety Belt Partnership pledge signing in December in Atlanta.
The plan provides for a five phase implementation - 
Phase I: Partnership - The CMV Safety Belt Partnership is actively engaged in activities to encourage CMV drivers to wear safety belts. 
Phase II: Analysis - Initiate activities to identify motivating factors of truck drivers in order to assist the agency in developing an effective education and outreach strategy to encourage safety belt use. The results of this analysis will be used to implement the education and outreach phase of the plan.
Phase III: Education and Outreach Strategy and Material Development - Develop education and outreach materials and strategies to encourage CMV drivers to wear safety belts.  
Phase IV: Increased Enforcement - Coordinate increased safety belt-related enforcement activities with CVSA and MCSAP partners.
Phase V: Enforcement Pilot Program - Initiate a one-State enforcement/education pilot program with an evaluation component. 

## Phase I:	  Partnership 

**Phase I:****	****  Partnership**

**●  ****Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration● ●**  **American Trucking Associations **
**●  ****Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance **
**●  ****Motor Freight Carriers Association **
**●  ****NATSO**
**●  ****National Private Truck Council **
**   ****NHTSA**
**●  ****Owner-Operator Independent Drivers  **
**    ****Association  **

***Goal:  C*****ontinue the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Belt Partnership to improve safety belt usage among commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.**

_**CMV Safety Belt Partnership established Dec. 9, 2003**_**. **

**Notes:**
On December 9, 2003, the Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Safety Belt Partnership was established. 

Currently the partnership includes the following organizations:

   Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 
   American Trucking Associations (ATA)
   Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)
   Motor Freight Carriers Association (MFCA)
   National Private Truck Council (NPTC) 
   Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), and
   National Tank Truck Carriers.

Partnership members signed an agreement pledging their commitment to work toward improving safety belt usage among CMV drivers. 

## Phase I:	  Partnership 

**Phase I:****	****  Partnership**

**      ****New**** ****Members    **
**     ****American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators**
**     ****Great West Casualty Company**
**     ****International Association of Chiefs of Police **
**     ****National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools**
**     ****National Private Truck Council **
**     ****National Safety Council**
**     ****National Tank Truck Carriers **
**     ****Network of Employers for Highway Safety**
**     ****Professional Truck Drivers Institute**
**     ****Truck** **Manufacturers Association**

***Goal:  Expand *****the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Belt Partnership. **

**Notes:**
On December 9, 2003, the Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Safety Belt Partnership was established. 

Currently the partnership includes the following organizations:

   Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 
   American Trucking Associations (ATA)
   Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)
   Motor Freight Carriers Association (MFCA)
   National Private Truck Council (NPTC) 
   Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), and
   National Tank Truck Carriers.

Partnership members signed an agreement pledging their commitment to work toward improving safety belt usage among CMV drivers. 

## Need to know why - -

**Phase II:  Analysis**

**Need to know why - -**
**Only 48% of CMV drivers wear safety belts ****compared 80% for all passenger vehicles.**
**	****	****	**

***Goal:*****  Identify motivating factors to assist in development of an effective education and outreach strategy.   **

**Notes:**
In 2003, FMCSA completed a safety belt usage study about truck drivers.  A total of 3,909 trucks were observed.  The overall safety belt usage rate for commercial vehicles observed in the study was 48 percent. This compares to a usage rate of 79 percent for all passenger vehicles (U.S. DOT National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) Survey, June 2003).

FMCSA will use its 2003 study as an indicator that a problem exists concerning low use of safety belts by CMV drivers.  Additional usage studies will be required to obtain a more precise baseline against which future enforcement and education and outreach activities will be evaluated.  

These studies will provide more information than exists now about our target driver audience and will identify motivating factors for their wearing or not wearing safety belts.  Obtaining this information will assist FMCSA in developing and implementing enforcement and education and outreach strategies to improve safety belt usage among CMV drivers.  

The Outreach Division will coordinate all analysis through FMCSA’s Office of Research, Technology and Information Management.

## Phase II:  Analysis 

**Phase II:  Analysis**

***FMCSA Sponsored Analysis:***
**●****	**_**Statistician**_** to establish threshold ****	****activity for other studies.**
**●** 	**Conduct a **_**Commercial Truck and Bus **_**	**_**Safety Synthesis Program**_ **study on safety ****	****belt usage practices of CMV drivers and ****	****carriers. **
**	****	****	**

**Notes:**
Use a statistician to determine various sampling strategies representing efficient, reasonable, cost effective methods to measure safety belt usage rates among large truck drivers in the future.  This analysis of methods and costs, establishes the threshold activity for other studies.

Utilize the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP) to conduct a synthesis study on safety belt usage practices of CMV drivers.  A synthesis study is a series of studies to search out and synthesize useful knowledge from all available sources and to prepare documented reports.  It can be tailored to acquire information regarding safety belt use in the motor carrier industry.  It can also identify what practices transportation managers have taken to increase the use of safety belts within there own companies.  Additionally, the survey instruments used to collect data do not require Office of Management and Budget approval, which can take 5 to 9 months to be approved.  

## Phase II:  Analysis 

**Phase II:  Analysis**

***Industry Analysis:***
**●****	**_**Driver**_** **_**Focus**_** Group Studies**
**●** 	_**Motor Carrier**_** **_**Focus **_**Group Studies**
**●** 	**Driver and Motor Carrier **_**Surveys**_**	****	**

**Notes:**
Encourage CMV Safety Belt Partnership members to conduct driver surveys to determine why some CMV drivers wear safety belts and others do not wear safety belts.  For instance, OOIDA could conduct a follow-up survey to the one they conducted in 2001. 

Encourage CMV Safety Belt Partnership members to conduct motor carrier (company) surveys to determine why some CMV drivers wear safety belts and others do not wear safety belts.  For instance, Praxair Inc., a private motor carrier, requires all its CMV drivers to wear safety belts and penalizes those it finds not wearing them.  

## Phase III:   Education and Outreach 		

**Phase III:  **** ****Education and Outreach **

**●****	****D****evelop and implement an **_**education and **_**	**_**outreach strategy**_** based on FMCSA, ****	****NHTSA, and partner analysis. **
**●****	****P****roduce **_**education and outreach **_**	**_**materials**_** that may be used by FMCSA, ****	****States, law enforcement agencies, ****	****industry partners, and the media. **
**	**

***Goal: *****Develop and implement an education and outreach strategy to encourage CMV drivers to wear safety belts.**

**Notes:**
FMCSA will develop and implement an education and outreach strategy based on FMCSA, NHTSA, and partner analysis to encourage and improve safety belt use among CMV drivers.  

The strategy will include producing education and outreach materials that may be used by FMCSA, States, law enforcement agencies, industry partners, and the media.  

NHTSA will be an active partner in the development and review process of developing and implementing the strategy. 

A private sector contractor will be used to develop education and outreach material and to assist in development of the outreach and education strategy.  

## Phase III:   Education and Outreach

**Phase III:  **** ****Education and Outreach**

**●****	****TransCore DAT Message Boards**
**●****	****Incorporate safety belt messages in all ****	****speeches and presentations.**
**●****	****Develop Web sites to promote CMV Safety ****	****Belt Improvement Program.****	**

**Notes:**
FMCSA has obtained a commitment from TransCore DAT Services, at no cost to the agency, to display safety belt messages on their load monitors.  

A load monitor is a conveniently located television screen, in a truck rest stop, that displays shipper information of freight that is available for transport by drivers and other advertisements and messages.  FMCSA safety belt safety messages run on 1,200 monitors in truck stops and travel plazas nationwide and are seen by professional drivers and consumers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, approximately 2 times per hour. 

We will continue to promote wearing safety belts and include safety belt safety messages in all FMCSA speeches, remarks, and presentations.  

FMCSA has developed a Web page devoted to the CMV Safety Belt Improvement program.  This site will be enhanced as more activities are developed.

## Phase III:   Education and Outreach

**Phase III:  **** ****Education and Outreach**

**Notes:**
TransCore Display Ad.

## Phase III:   Education and Outreach

**Phase III:  **** ****Education and Outreach**

**Notes:**

Sample education material.  OOIDA – developed 2001

## Safety Belt Partnership 

**Safety Belt Partnership**

**●****	****News**
**●****	****Events**
**●****	****Safety Belt Usage by Commercial Motor Vehicle ****	****(CMV) Drivers Study **
**●****	****Education and Outreach Material**
**●         ****Speeches and Presentations**
**●         ****Articles for Distribution**
**●****	****Send us your story – Has a safety belt saved your ****	****life?**

**www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safetybelt**

**Notes:**
On December 9, 2003, the Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Safety Belt Partnership was established. 

Currently the partnership includes the following organizations:

   Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 
   American Trucking Associations (ATA)
   Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)
   Motor Freight Carriers Association (MFCA)
   National Private Truck Council (NPTC) 
   Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), and
   National Tank Truck Carriers.

Partnership members signed an agreement pledging their commitment to work toward improving safety belt usage among CMV drivers. 

## Phase IV:   Increase Enforcement 		

**Phase IV:  **** ****Increase Enforcement **

**●****	****Work closely with CVSA and IACP to ****	****develop safety belt enforcement activities.**
**●****	****Coordinate with CVSA to emphasize safety ****	****belt outreach and enforcement during ****	****Roadcheck 2004.****	**

***Goal: *****Increase and improve enforcement of FMCSR (49 CFR 392.16) which relates to CMV driver safety belts.**

**Notes:**
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) requires CMV drivers to wear safety belts while driving.  Each State has similar requirements that apply to CMV drivers operating in their State.  

Among the States, however, there is significant variance in the level of enforcement of safety belt violations found during roadside inspections.  The number of tickets written by States varies widely.   

We will work closely with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) and the International Chiefs of Police (IACP) to develop and implement enforcement activities that encourage safety belt usage among CMV drivers.  

We will also coordinate with CVSA enforcement activities that emphasize safety belt violations during all annual “Roadcheck” inspection activities. 

## Phase IV:   Increase Enforcement 		

**●  ****	****Work with MCSAP agencies to improve the ****	****consistency of safety belt enforcement during ****	****MCSAP inspections.**
**●****	****Incorporate safety belt usage improvement ****	****initiatives into FMCSA Division Safety Plans for ****	****each State. **
**●****	****Incorporate safety belt usage enforcement, ****	****education, and outreach activities into the annual ****	****MCSAP Planning Memo. **
**● ****	****Include safety belt surveys as a suggested activity ****	****in the annual MCSAP Planning Memo and final ****	****budgetary memo.**

**Notes:**
We will work with State Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) agencies to improve the consistency of safety belt enforcement during MCSAP inspections in every State.  We will encourage Division Administrators to incorporate safety belt usage improvement initiatives into FMCSA Division Safety Plans for each State. 

We will incorporate safety belt usage enforcement, education, and outreach activities into the annual MCSAP Planning Memo. 

We will include safety belt surveys as a suggested activity in the annual MCSAP Planning Memo and final budgetary memo.  The agency could designate the basic grants as a funding source to conduct surveys. 

## Phase V: Enforcement/Education Pilot Program

**Phase V: Enforcement/Education Pilot Program**

_**ONE-STATE PILOT PROGRAM**_**  **** - - ****FY’05**
**	****●  **_**Combine education and outreach and law **_**	****	****    **_**enforcement activities**_** in a Federal, State, and ****	****    private sector partnership **
**	****●  ****Develop and implement **_**program evaluation**_** ****	****    components to measure effectiveness of both  ****	****    the education and the enforcement components. **
**	****●  ****Conduct a limited representative one-State ****	****    safety belt **_**observational survey, pre- and post-**_**   ****	****    **_**enforcement/outreach activity**_** in three to five ****	****    cities within the pilot State.**

***Goal:   *****Develop and implement enforcement, education and outreach, and evaluation activities to improve safety belt usage among CMV drivers. **

**Notes:**
We will develop and implement a one-State pilot program similar to NHTSA’s “Click-It or Ticket” initiative that began by using one State as a test case that was subsequently expanded as improvements in safety belt usage were documented.  The pilot will be conducted to maximize the use of high volume summer season travel and the chance of conducting it under fair weather conditions.

The program will combine education and outreach and law enforcement activities in a Federal, State, and private sector partnership.  FMCSA will coordinate efforts with CVSA, International Chiefs of Police (IACP), FMCSA Division Offices, State MCSAP offices, and appropriate law enforcement agencies.  FMCSA will solicit agreement and support of the pilot program among other FMCSA stakeholders including industry.  

Program evaluation components will be developed and implemented to measure effectiveness of both the education and the enforcement components.  FMCSA will hire a research firm to conduct a limited representative one-State safety belt observational survey, pre- and post- enforcement/outreach activity in three to five cities within the pilot State of approximately 10,000 to 20,000 vehicles.  This survey is intended to measure any change in safety belt usage from before the pilot program starts until it ends.

Additionally, a program evaluation component will be developed and implemented to measure effectiveness of the education and outreach component.  

## Phase V: Enforcement/Education Pilot Program

**Phase V: Enforcement/Education Pilot Program**

**●  ****	****Develop and implement an **_**education and **_**	**_**outreach strategy**_**. **
**●  ****	****Employ traditional communication tactics**
**	****including –**_** **_
**	****     ****	****- television**
**	****	****- radio**
**	****	****- print**
**	****	****- outdoor billboards**
**	****	****- advertisements on bus backs**

** **_**ONE-STATE PILOT PROGRAM**_**  **

**Notes:**
An education and outreach strategy will be developed and implemented including messages with general appeal to create awareness and to facilitate a change in safety belt usage by CMV drivers.    The strategy will employ traditional communication tactics including television, radio, print, outdoor billboards, public relations support, advertisements on bus backs, and collateral material to reach CMV drivers with one message to compel them to modify their driving behavior.  A combination of paid advertising and PSA placement will ensure broad reach.  

Paid television advertisements may not be planned at this time because funds are not available. The possibility of including paid television advertisements in the program may be considered when FY 2005 funds become available.  The overall campaign strategy will establish a solid foundation of basic core elements for the campaign theme that FMCSA can build on over time. 

## MYTHS AND FACTS

**MYTHS AND FACTS**

**Myth****	****There is no compelling reason to buckle-up. If ****	****I am in a crash I won't be ejected. My vehicle ****	****is so large and high off the ground, I won't be ****	****hurt. **
**Fact **  Safety belts prevent injuries and fatalities by: 	preventing ejection, shifting crash forces to the 	strongest parts of the body's structure, spreading 	forces over a wider area of the body, allowing the 	body to slow down gradually, protecting the head 	and spinal cord.

## MYTHS AND FACTS

**MYTHS AND FACTS**

**In 2003:**
- 	**620 drivers of large trucks died in truck ****	****crashes. **
**	****309 drivers of large trucks that died in truck ****	****crashes were not wearing safety belts.**
**	****Of the 171 drivers who were ejected from their ****	****trucks, almost 80 percent of them were not ****	****wearing safety belts.** ** **

## MYTHS AND FACTS

**MYTHS AND FACTS**

**Myth****	**** Wearing a safety belt is a personal decision and ****	****	****doesn't affect anyone else. **
**Fact****	**** First, it is the law. **
- 	The Federal Motor Carrier Safety 	Regulations (FMCSRs) 	require commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers to wear 	safety belts. Section 392.16 of the FMCSRs (49 CFR 	392.16) states, "A commercial motor vehicle which has 	a safety belt assembly installed at the driver's seat shall not 	be driven unless the driver has properly restrained 	himself/herself with the safety belt assembly."

## MYTHS AND FACTS

**MYTHS AND FACTS**

**Myth  Wearing a safety belt is a personal decision and ****	****doesn't affect anyone else. **
**Fact ****	**The consequences of not wearing a safety belt can greatly 	affect your family and loved ones.
- 	What would be the effect on your loved ones if you are 	killed or seriously injured in a crash as the result of not 	buckling up?

## MYTHS AND FACTS

**MYTHS AND FACTS**

**Myth  Wearing a safety belt is a personal decision and ****	****doesn't affect anyone else. **
**Fact:****	**It is your responsibility to maintain control of your
- 	vehicle.
- 	Safety belts are your best chance of remaining in control of 	your truck in a crash or emergency situation.
- 	CMV driver deaths as a result of not wearing a safety belt 	cost society billions of dollars each year.

## MYTHS AND FACTS

**MYTHS AND FACTS**

**Myth  A safety belt will trap me inside my vehicle. I won't be ****	****able to get out of the cab if it catches fire or is ****	****submerged in water.**
**Fact  ** Your best chance of survival is remaining conscious and in 	place behind the wheel of your truck.
- 	Wearing your safety belt greatly reduces your chance of 	sustaining injuries, and increases your chances of survival.
- 	In rollovers, drivers are 80% less likely to die when belted.

## MYTHS AND FACTS

**MYTHS AND FACTS**

**Myth  The safety belt is too small and restricts ****	****my movement. **
**Fact:** 	Safety belt extenders are available on most 	domestic vehicles for a small fee.
- 	The parts department of your local truck 	dealer should be able to assist you in locating 	the correct safety belt extender for your 	vehicle.

## MYTHS AND FACTS

**MYTHS AND FACTS**

**Myth  In the old days - we just had a lap belt that ****	****seemed to work fine.    I feel trapped in the ****	****two-part lap and shoulder belts. **
**Fact ** The lap and shoulder safety belt design has 	been proven to hold a driver securely behind 	the wheel in the event of a crash greatly 	increasing the driver's ability to maintain 	control of the vehicle and minimizing the 	chance for serious injury or death.
- 	Wearing only a part of the safety belt greatly 	reduces your protection.

## Safety Belt Use is Mandatory!

**Safety Belt Use is Mandatory!**
- It is (Company Name) policy that every operator of our equipment and all occupants of any vehicle must wear safety belts while on company business.
- This applies to all personally-owned, company-owned, leased, and rented vehicles.
**Lap and Shoulder Belts**
- Drivers must wear lap and shoulder belts when operating a motor vehicle. (FMCSR, Part 392.16)
**Sleeper Berth Restraints**
- For sleeper berths, occupant restraint systems installed by the manufacturer must be used, whether the system is at the entry point of the berth or incorporated as a belt-type restraint within the berth itself.

**Sample Company Policy**

## Slide 26

## Slide 27