• Drivers are instructed to fill up

with E85 fuel if fuel tank is less

than 1/2 full.

• Determine time and length of use

of the vehicle. In the event

employees use the vehicle for an

overnight trip outside of the

Washington Metropolitan area, we

provide employees with locations

of the other E85 locations and

inform them to fill up the tank with

E85 prior to leaving. If the fuel will

be expended prior to return, the

Standard Operating Procedure

(SOP) is to only fuel up with

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GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy

Issue 27 January 2004

http://www.gsa.gov/vehiclepolicy Vehicle

Views

In This Issue

TSA’s Model Program 

For Using Alternative Fuel . . . . . . . 1

The Fourth National 

Federal Fleet Manager Workshop

and Information Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Spring Will Be Coming 

and Cleaning Will Begin . . . . . . . . . 4

From the West Coast. . . . . . . . . . . . 6

U.S. Navy to Produce 

Its Own Biodiesel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

National AFV Day Odyssey . . . . . 9

University of Idaho, National

Biodiesel Board Receive Grants 10

Hennepin County, Minnesota 

Announced Its Diesel Equipment

Will Run On 5% Biodiesel. . . . . . . 11

U.S. Postal Service AFVs . . . . . . 11

NSF Web Site Dedicated to

Preventing Drowsy Driving. . . . . 12

Tame That Alligator! . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Child Passenger Safety Week . . 14

NSF’s National Sleep Awareness

Week® Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)

Fact Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Changes in Traffic Control Devices

to Help Older Drivers, Pedestrians,

Bicyclists, Workers . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

NHTSA Unveils Strategy to

Reduce Impaired Driving, Sets

Priorities for Immediate Future . 19

Continued on page 2

The Transportation Security

Administration’s (TSA)

Fleet & Transportation

Services Division believes it has a

successful model for Federal

agencies to use to maximize the

consumption of Alternative Fuel in

its AFVs. TSA Headquarters’

Model will be used for the rest of

the agency in using Alternative

Fuel in the near future. TSA

Headquarters motor vehicle pool

consists of 11 mid-size sedans,

FordTaurus E85 Flex Fuel Vehicles.

A central email reservation

system is used for employees to

reserve a vehicle for a day(s) to

maximize utilization and minimize

the number of vehicles in the fleet.

When the employees come to

obtain a vehicle the following

information is provided:

• Daily utilization sign out sheet,

fuel card and keys.

• SOP requirement to use E85

fuel when refueling vehicle.

• Map and directions on how to

fuel E85 fuel.

• Written reason why TSA is

using Alternative Fuel.

• Driver responsibilities and

where to park the vehicle. 

TSA’s Model Program 

For Using Alternative Fuel

By Joe Gerhart, TSA Fleet Manager

TSA’s first Fleet Manager, Joe Gerhart
enough fuel to return to

headquarters, then refuel with E85

fuel prior to returning the vehicle.

• A Monthly Alternative Fuel Report

is provided to management. The

Report is published and posted on

the fleet intranet web page.

Strategies used in the event

employee uses unleaded regular

gasoline;

• Upon return, employee is

questioned why E85 was not used

and an email is sent to the

employee advising him/her

2

AFVs and Hybrids from page 1

VehicleViews

reasons why E85 should be used.

• An employee database is

maintained to identify repeat

violators.

• If same employee uses unleaded

regular a second time, an email is

sent to the employee and the next

higher-level management official.

TSA kicked off its TSA Headquarters central motor vehicle pool

in July 2003. Since that time the

percentage of E85 used has been

82.13%. The following Monthly AFV

Utilization Fuel Report is as follows:

Although this percentage is less

than 100%, legitimate reasons, such

as extended trips outside the

Washington, DC area, can be

analyzed to maximize the use of

alternative fuel. The above report

includes all fuels used.

Federal agencies interested in

obtaining copies of the SOP and or

AFV Fuel Reports can contact Joe

Gerhart at 571-227-2064 or email:

joseph.gerhart@dhs.gov ■

Monthly AFV Fuel Utilization Report

July Aug Sept Oct Nov Program To Date

A sample of the Monthly 93% 85.9% 79.1% 81.9% 74.1% 82.13%

Utilization Report looks like this:
VehicleViews

3

The Fourth National 

Federal Fleet Manager Workshop

and Information Fair

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

New York, New York, July 20 – 22, 2004

The Federal Fleet Policy

Council, the GSA Office of

Governmentwide Policy, and

GSA Fleet are proud to bring the

premier federal fleet event of 2004 to

New York, New York.

FedFleet 2004 will provide three full

days of training. There will be

something for everyone in all

positions and at all levels. The

workshop training sessions and the

exhibit hall vendors will help you stay

abreast of innovative fleet

information, technology, and trends.

Network with fellow fleet

professionals from federal, state,

local, and foreign governments and

the private sector – make helpful

contacts – share your experiences –

discover best practices – ask

challenging questions – learn from

others’ knowledge –– improve your

job performance.

Please check back often to

www.fedfleet.org for important

information and continual updates.

See YOU in the Big Apple in July

2004! And remember...

“The Road to the Future is Now”

and all roads lead to New York,

New York!

Thinking Sustainably:

Designing Transportation for a

Sustainable Future

Brian F. Nattrass, Ph.D. & Mary E.

Altomare, M.A.

In this hands-on workshop we will

examine the significance of

sustainability to transportation

systems, and the critical importance

of transportation systems to creating

a more sustainable future, both

nationally and globally. Participants

will explore The Natural Step

Framework for Sustainability, an

approach to sustainability based on

scientific principles and a living

systems model – now being adopted

by a growing number of U.S.

government agencies and major

corporations – and will have the

opportunity to practice applying the

sustainability framework to

transportation issues.

Brian F. Nattrass, Ph.D. Mary E. Altomare, M.A.

During This Workshop Session

Come Get Straight Answers to

Your Burning Questions From

Those “In-the-Know”!

Ask the Expert Q-&-A Panel

Thursday, July 22, 2004, 1:30p.m. –

3:00p.m.

This workshop will be “Talk-Show

Host” style with a moderator. The

panelists are associates from

different federal government

programs. The moderator will direct

questions from the attendees to

these subject-matter experts.

Suggested question topics include:

Home-to-Work, Authorized Use of a

Federal Motor Vehicle, Canadian and

Mexican Insurance, use of rental cars

while on Official Duty Travel (TDY),

and the issues of liability coverage

while using a rental car on TDY.

Panelists:

Jack Kelly

Office of Management and Budget

Lennard S. Loewentritt

GSA, Office of General Counsel

Mike Moses

GSA, Office of Governmentwide

Policy

Gary Lind

U.S. Navy

Bill Webster

GSA Fleet

Rob Blackstone

GSA Automotive

■
VehicleViews

4

Spring is coming and cleaning

will begin. Let’s face it; old

man winter can cause an

array of troubles. Everything from

broken branches to downed power

lines, from potholes to sink holes can

be caused by extreme winter weather

conditions. When winter comes to an

end it’s time to throw open the

shutters, roll up the rugs and engage

in some heavy duty cleaning. But,

sometimes the toughest part of

spring cleaning is getting started.

GSA Automotive can provide you the

right tools to make the job

manageable, under GSA

Automotive’s Vehicular Multiple

Award Schedule (VMAS) 23V.

With just one look on Schedules Elibrary or GSA Advantage!

everything needed to manage the

clean up left by the heavy winter

weather can be acquired. 

For those broken branches and

downed trees, Special Item Number

(SIN) 271-105,

Woodchipping/Shredders, Stump

Removal and Tub Grinding Equipment

is everything you may need. This SIN

covers a variety of manufacturers,

commercial models and options for

woodchippers, shredders, stump

removers and tub grinding

equipment. Also, SIN 271-108

provides for all your spare part and

accessory needs. 

For potholes and road repairs, SIN

271-106, Street Repair and

Continued on page 6

Spring Will Be Coming 

and Cleaning Will Begin...
VehicleViews

5
VehicleViews

6

On November 4, 2003 our

“SEVENTH” Local Federal

Fleet Policy Council

(FedFleet) Chapter was officially

established in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The meeting was held at the

Department of Interior, Bureau of

Land Management Fairbanks Office,

Fairbanks, AK.

For this inaugural meeting I was

joined by Jenna Crowson, J. R.

Bickmore and Phil Jones from the

GSA Anchorage Fleet Management

Center. The meeting was well

attended by representatives of

federal organizations located in and

around the Fairbanks, Alaska area.

The following organizations were

represented: GSA, Army, Army Corp

of Engineers,Air Force, Department

ofAgriculture (USDA)-Food and

Drug Administration, Department of

Interior (DOI)-National Park Service,

Department of TransportationFederal AviationAdministration,

Department of Health and Human

Services, DOI-Bureau of Land

Management, National Oceanic

Atmospheric Administration,

Department of Treasury-Bureau of

Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, DOIBureau of Indian Affairs, and

USDA-Forest Service. Other

organizations represented were

Alaska Air Pollution Control

Administration, Alaska School

District, Alaska Job Corps and

Evertech.

I emphasized that the real value of

local FedFleet chapters are: 1)

building of strong partnerships

between organizations, 2)

establishing and maintaining lines of

communications, and 3) bringing real

world experiences into the Federal

policy decision-making arena. 

A Steering Committee was selected

and our next meeting in Fairbanks

will be scheduled during April of

2004. ■

From the West Coast

By Nate Reed, West Coast Representative, 

Federal Vehicle Policy Division, Office of Governmentwide Policy,

U.S. General Services Administration

Miscellaneous Equipment, has the

products and equipment you need to

get the job done. All the products you

could ever need for road repair can

be found under this SIN. Products

include, descaling equipment, traffic

line removers, direct and indirect

mixers, road kettles, walk-behind

rollers, compactor equipment,

concrete vibrators and asphalt

heaters and kettles. SIN 271-108 also

provides spare parts and accessories

for Street Repair equipment. 

As for the roads that didn’t get hit

too badly by the winter weather, or

are newly repaired that could still

use a little more polish and shine.

SIN 271-104 has street sweepers and

scrubbers, for all your road cleaning

and clearing needs.

For our customers who have really

heavy duty cleaning ahead of them,

see SIN 271-101, Construction

Equipment. This SIN includes such

products as wheeled and tracked

tractors, loaders (front end with or

without backhoes), skid steer

loaders, excavators, crawler dozers,

tool carriers, track-type loaders,

motor graders, scrapers, load alls,

rider operated dump vehicle, rider

operated ditchers/trenchers (tracked

or wheeled), wheeled and tracked

cranes (rough terrain; all terrain and

highway). For attachments to skid

steers, trucks, tractors and

backhoes, see SIN 272-101,

Construction Equipment

Attachments.

Though it can be a long and tedious

job, arming yourself with the correct

products can make your spring

cleaning a much less daunting task.

Please look for the above Special

Item Numbers and products at

www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov and

www.gsaadvantage.gov. If your

require assistance or have questions,

call GSA Automotive’s Customer

CARE, Marketing and Systems

Division at (703) 308-CARS. ■

SPRING CLEANING from page 4
The Naval Facilities Engineering

Service Center (NFESC) is partnering

with Santa Barbara-based Biodiesel

Industries, Inc., a biodiesel

manufacturer and technology provider.

Using a modular biodiesel processing

unit, the base will collect its used

cooking oil and transform it into

biodiesel through a chemical process

known as transesterification.

Biodiesel can be made from any fat or

vegetable oil, such as soybean oil. It’s

nontoxic, biodegradable and works in

any diesel engine with few or no

modifications. Although biodiesel

contains no petroleum, it can be

blended with petroleum diesel at any

level, the most common blend level

being 20 percent biodiesel mixed with

80 percent diesel (B20). 

The U.S. Military is one of the largest

users of B20, but this is the first

attempt to create a self-sustaining

plant. If the project is successful,

ultimately the Navy could send

portable biodiesel processing units

overseas to produce its own fuel while

on missions abroad. 

“This is a win-win,” said Kurt Buehler,

Chemical Engineer at NFESC. “By

producing our own biodiesel from

used cooking oil, we can eliminate a

solid waste disposal problem on

bases. In return, our diesel vehicles

will burn cleaner, and we’ll be using

less foreign oil.” 

“I think it is significant to note that the

Navy is charged with protecting

shipping routes to import petroleum to

the United States,” said Joe Jobe,

executive director of the nonprofit

National Biodiesel Board. “I admire

the military leaders who have the

foresight to use their existing

7

on the GREENfront

The largest diesel fuel user in

the world is making a

significant move in the drive

for domestic energy security. At

Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) in

Port Hueneme, California, U.S. Navy

leaders announced plans to recycle

the Navy’s used cooking oil by Continued on page 8

processing it into cleaner burning

biodiesel for use in its diesel vehicles.

Biodiesel is an established,

commercially available fuel that works

in any diesel engine, and the

Department of Energy calls it the

fastest growing alternative fuel in

America.

U.S. Navy to Produce 

Its Own Biodiesel 

Alternative Fuel Helps Strengthen U.S. Energy

Security, Protect the Environment 

By Jenna Higgins

Kurt Buehler, Chemical Engineer at NFESC, checks out the biodiesel processing unit at

the base.
VehicleViews

8

resources to create cleaner burning

biodiesel. The Navy is the largest

diesel fuel user in the world, and

they’re working proactively and

creatively to use more renewable fuel.

It’s truly groundbreaking.”

The demonstration validation plant’s

annual capacity is one million gallons.

The base plans on using 20,000

gallons a year. Nearby Channel

Islands National Park, which has used

biodiesel for several years to help

meet its goal of making the islands

petroleum-free, will use 20,000 gallons

a year. Ventura County will also use

20,000 gallons annually. 

The U.S. currently imports

approximately 60 percent of its oil -- of

that, 800,000 barrels of oil a day come

from Iraq.

“If you look at what it costs to send a

gallon of diesel overseas, there is a

potential to reduce the logistics tail

when deploying since we’re already

sending vegetable oil overseas

NAVY BIODIESEL from page 7 anyway to cook for the troops,”

Buehler said. “It also gives us energy

security for Navy bases. If petroleum

gets cut off, we can keep the base

running on biodiesel. So in addition to

reducing dependence on foreign oil,

producing our own biodiesel could

provide a tactical advantage in case of

crisis.” 

“This is the culmination of fours years

of working with the US Navy,” said

Russell Teall, president of Biodiesel

Industries. “Our research and

development of the Modular

Production Unit has been completed

and implemented in our civilian plants

in Las Vegas and Australia. Now, with

the cooperation of NFESC we hope to

continue making improvements so

that it can soon be deployed at

military installations around the

world.” 

The U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and

Marines all use B20 at different bases

and stations throughout the country

and have used about 50 thousand

gallons of B20 a year since 2001. The

switch to biodiesel was virtually

seamless, according to Transportation

Director Gary Passmore. “Older

equipment took a filter change, but

newer equipment needed nothing,” he

said. “It went so smooth that no one

really noticed.” 

Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to

have completed the rigorous Health

Effects testing required by the Clean

Air Act. Results show biodiesel

poses less of a risk to human health

than petroleum diesel. The

Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) recently released a

comprehensive technical report of

biodiesel emissions data that shows

the exhaust emissions of particulate

matter from pure biodiesel are about

47 percent lower than overall

particulate matter emissions from

diesel. Breathing particulate has

been shown to be a human health

hazard. Biodiesel emissions also

reduce by 80 to 90 percent potential

cancer causing compounds called

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

(PAH) and nitrated PAH. Biodiesel

also reduces emissions of total

unburned hydrocarbons, a contributing

factor to smog and ozone, by about 68

percent. Carbon monoxide is reduced

by about 48 percent. 

Biodiesel has similar horsepower,

torque and BTU content compared to

petroleum diesel. It offers excellent

lubricity and higher cetane than diesel

fuel. Biodiesel is registered with the

EPA as a fuel and fuel additive.

About 350 major fleets currently use

biodiesel nationwide.

Readers can learn more about biodiesel

by visiting http://www.biodiesel.org.

Readers can learn more about Biodiesel

Industries at

http://www.pipeline.to/biodiesel. ■

9th Annual 

National Ethanol

Conference: 

Policy & Marketing

Feb. 16 –18, 2004 

Fontainebleu 

Hilton Hotel 

Miami Beach, Florida

National 

Biodiesel

Conference and

Exposition 2004

February 1-4, 2004 

Palm Springs,

California
VehicleViews

9

National AFV Day Odyssey is

the spark of an idea that

ignited a vision for America.

This well-defined national public

awareness event touts the benefits of

alternative fuel vehicles to fleet

managers and consumers at

individual locations from the East to

the West Coasts and from Hawaii to

British Columbia.

The National Alternative

Fuels Training Consortium

(NAFTC) and its partners

will coordinate these

events across the country

and in Canada. Plans are

well underway with nearly

50 sites signed up already.

Early reports indicate that

activities will include “ride

and drive” demonstrations

of vehicles from Toyota,

Honda and GM, as well as

presentations on the many

alternative fuels available and the

technology that makes them a cleaner

choice in transportation. All of these

events will be held on the same day,

April 2, 2004.

The 2002 inaugural event report

showed that more than 17,000

individuals attended National AFV

Day Odyssey events at 51 sites in 31

states. Odyssey was the largest

alternative fuels event ever held in the

U.S., and its success helped to

spread the AFV message across the

nation.

Meg Baughman, Lead Developer and

Co-Coordinator of National AFV

Odyssey Day events said, “We

weren’t just preaching to the choir in

2002. Besides the 17,000 people who

attended an Odyssey event, we

estimate that thousands more heard

the AFV message that day through

the media.” Baughman, who surveyed

Odyssey Day attendees in 2002,

reported that the nationwide events

achieved the goal of raising public

awareness of alternative fuel vehicles

(AFVs). “More than 70 percent of our

survey respondents said they learned

something new about AFVs,”

Baughman said. “And even more

exciting than that, nearly 90 percent of

those surveyed said they’d test-drive

an AFV before purchasing their next

car. Prior to Odyssey, our survey

shows that only half that number

would have test-driven an AFV.”

Anticipating another triumphant

Odyssey Day, Al Ebron, NAFTC

Executive Director and Odyssey

Coordinator said, “Alternative fuel

vehicles used to be a well-kept secret,

but thanks to Odyssey, the message

is getting out—AFVs are the cleaner,

smarter choice in transportation.

They’re better for the environment,

and they give us a way to reduce our

dependence on foreign oil.

That’s a message that

makes good sense for

America.”

National AFV Odyssey Day

has three goals: to heighten

public awareness of AFVs

as a choice for consumers

and fleet owners; to

increase public recognition

of the alternative fuels

industry and the technology

available to consumers; and

to strengthen partnerships

within the AFV industry. Creating

local Odyssey committees helps to

build these partnerships and

encourages wider involvement in

AFV-oriented activities. 

AFV Odyssey recognizes that no

single alternative fuels solution works

in every region of the country, which

means that every site will customize

its activities for the needs and

interests in its region. However,

Odyssey’s look, feel and message will

The Journey Continues! 

National AFV Day Odyssey 

Showcases Alternative Fuels Events Nationwide

Continued on page 10
VehicleViews

10

Agriculture Secretary Ann M.

Veneman announced the

selection of the University of

Idaho (UI) and the National Biodiesel

Board to receive $960,000 in grants to

work together as partners to conduct

a Biodiesel fuel education program.

The National Biodiesel Board was

awarded $770,000 to create

educational programming and the

University of Idaho was awarded

$190,000 to provide technical support

for the effort. 

The purpose of the grants, which

were awarded on a competitive

basis, is to develop an educational

program to target governmental and

private entities that operate vehicle

fleets. The program will address

issues previously identified by fleet

operators and other potential users

of this alternative fuel, including the

need to balance the positive

environmental, social and human

health effects of Biodiesel

consumption with the increased cost

per gallon. In addition, these grants

will be used to inform other

interested groups and the general

public about Biodiesel fuel use. 

Biodiesel – which can be made from

almost any agricultural oil or fat,

including soybean oil, animal fats,

and recycled greases – has many

environmental and health benefits. 

It is biodegradable, and when burned

by itself or in a blend, produces less

sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide,

cancer-causing compounds,

particulate matter and other forms of

air pollution, compared to

conventional diesel fuels.

Section 2004 of the 2002 Farm Bill

authorizes a total of $4.8 million for

fiscal years 2003 through 2007.

A special thanks to Julie Shain,

Manager, GSA, Boise Fleet

Management Center, Chairperson of

our Boise, Idaho Local Federal Fleet

Policy Council (FedFleet) Chapter

and our other chapter members who

are playing an important roll in the

development of biodiesel

infrastructure within the state of

Idaho. Also, for their commitment to

promote and utilize this alternative

fuel whenever and wherever

possible.

For more information contact Bill

Loftus, UI Agricultural

Communication, at: 208-885-7694 or

bloftus@uidaho.edu

David F. Ferguson

Idaho Soil Conservation

Commission

Agriculture Program Specialist -

Riparian Specialist

P. O. Box 790, Boise ID 83701

(208) 332-8654

(208 334-2386 (fax)

dferguso@agri.state.id.us ■

University of Idaho, National

Biodiesel Board Receive $960,000

in Biodiesel Fuel Education Grants

be consistent throughout the nation.

Each local coordinator will receive a

planning notebook filled with event

ideas and more than 90 checklists,

aids, and templates to help spread

the National AFV Day Odyssey

message.

“We want every site in the country to

develop its own activities for

Odyssey,” said Al Ebron. “But the

message remains the same—AFVs

are one solution to America’s energy

crisis, and we want to get the word

out to fleet owners, decision makers,

the automotive industry, and to

consumers. On April 2, 2004, every

Odyssey site will be doing its share to

create a new and better vision for

America—a cleaner, environmentally

conscious America that relies on its

own energy resources.”

Attend a National AFV Day Odyssey

event and experience the excitement!

Drive an AFV and learn about the

benefits of alternative fuels. See the

trends in AFV technology, meet the

experts in the alternative fuels

industry and explore ownership

opportunities. Find out about tax

credits for AFV purchases, and

discover AFV training and job

opportunities. To get on board with a

National AFV Odyssey Day event in

your area or for more information,

contact our Odyssey Manager at

Odyssey2004@mail.wvu.edu. or see

www.NationalAFVDayOdyssey.org.

Contact: Meg Baughman, (304) 293-

4221, ext. 3402

(Meg.Baughman@mail.wvu.edu) 

Kathleen Kennedy (304) 293-7882

(Kathleen.Kennedy@mail.wvu.edu)

■

ODYSSEY from page 9
11

AFVsuccess stories

Hennepin County announced

that all of its diesel

equipment would now run on

5% biodiesel blends. This will

include 175 diesel engines and

roughly 370,000 gallons per year.

What’s more the county has

developed a cooperative bid process

in which other counties and

municipalities are able to join them

in biodiesel purchasing. For

example, Washington County and the

city of Minneapolis have joined with

Hennepin to purchase biodiesel from

Lube Tech of Golden Valley. Those

fleets are free to use whatever

blends work best for them, such as

B20.

Hennepin County, Minnesota 

Announced Its Diesel Equipment

Will Run On 5% Biodiesel

U.S. Postal

Service

Washington, DC 

MetroArea

The USPS in the Washington,

D.C., metropolitan area is

operating at least 424 AFVs. The

AFVs include 48 CNG vehicles in

the District of Columbia; 116

CNG vehicles in Bethesda, MD;

103 CNG vehicles in Riverdale,

MD; 75 CNG vehicles in Reston,

VA; 78 CNG vehicles in

Woodbridge, VA; and four

electric vehicles in Fairfax

Turnpike, VA.

The USPS was recognized for

adding 508 flexible fuel AFVs

during the past year, bringing the

total number of AFVs in the

Metropolitan Washington region

to more than 1000. 

For more information contact:

Metropolitan Washington Clean

Cities Coordinator 

George Nichols at: 202-962-3355

■

The American Lung Association of

Minnesota’s (ALAMN) position is:

1) to commend the Hennepin County

Board of Commissioners for taking

this step; 

2) to recognize the county for taking

another proactive stance as they

have done previously with their E85

flexible fueled vehicles and hybridelectric vehicles; and

3) to acknowledge the significant

impact their cooperative bid will have

on pulling more biodiesel blends into

local fleet use.

The ALAMN is grateful to Dana

Albers, Hennepin County Fleet

Administrator for his dedication and

hard work on this project.

For more information contact Tim

Gerlach (ALAMN) at: 

1-800-LUNG-USA or

www.CleanAirChoice.org ■

GSA recycles!
12

the SAFETYzone

National Sleep Foundation

Launches New Web Site Dedicated

to Preventing Drowsy Driving

Anew Web site dedicated

exclusively to preventing the

nationwide problem of

drowsy driving has been launched by

the National Sleep Foundation

(NSF). This comprehensive NSF

site, www.drowsydriving.org, is the

first of its kind, providing a collection

of the latest information and

resources to help raise awareness

about a common, though often

ignored problem that injures and kills

thousands of people every year. 

“Sleepiness has no place on the

road. Yet crashes caused by a driver

who was drowsy or actually fell

asleep behind the wheel occur

almost daily in this country and in

countries around the world,” notes

Richard L. Gelula, NSF’s executive

director. “This new Web site is the

first of many new NSF initiatives

dedicated to preventing drowsy

driving and the needless deaths and

injuries that often result.” 

According to NSF’s annual Sleep in

America polls, about one-half of

adult drivers – some 100 million

people – say they have driven feeling

drowsy, while 17 percent, about 32

million people, say they have actually

fallen asleep at the wheel. The

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA)

conservatively estimates that 100,000

police-reported crashes are the

direct result of driver fatigue each

year, resulting in an estimated 1,550

deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5

billion in monetary losses including

diminished productivity and property

loss.

Visitors to www.drowsydriving.org

can get tips that describe warning

signs and symptoms of the onset of

sleepiness and actions to follow if

one becomes sleepy behind the

wheel. Tools for better sleep,

including sleep tips selected from

NSF materials, will be provided

along with information targeted

specifically to at-risk groups such as

teens, shift workers and commercial

drivers. Those seeking information

about new detection devices will find

them listed along with criteria the

devices must meet to be considered

effective and valid.

Additional tools and resources are

available for drivers of all ages,

employers and teachers. There are

also special features for researchers,

academics, policymakers and

advocates working to prevent the

injuries and deaths that result each

year because of drowsy drivers.

These include research studies and

surveys on drowsy driving, and links

to other research and related

documents listed by subject category

for easy reference.

NSF encourages companies,

schools, institutions, unions,

organizations and government

agencies to link to

www.drowsydriving.org. A special

“Link To This Site” feature is

provided to facilitate greater

awareness and use of the prevention

information. 

NSF will use the new site to try to

get more people involved as

advocates on the issue at the state

and local levels and within

institutions. www.drowsydriving.org

visitors can join the call to action by

urging their elected officials to

address sleep-related issues. 

The new Web site also will feature

updates on reported drowsy driving

crashes, press articles, and

legislative actions as well as a

special “memorial page” designated

for stories about people whose lives

have ended because of drowsy

driving. 

www.drowsydriving.org is the first of

many new phases of NSF’s “Drive

Alert...Arrive Alive” campaign to

raise awareness about the dangers of

driving while feeling drowsy. It will

be followed by a major report from

NSF early next year on

recommended preventive actions

that can be taken in the public and

private sectors at the national, state

and local levels.

The National Sleep Foundation is an

independent nonprofit organization

dedicated to improving public health

and safety by achieving public

understanding of sleep and sleep

disorders, and by supporting public

education, sleep-related research,

and advocacy. NSF is based in

Washington, DC.

Contact: Marcia C. Stein at: (202)

347-3471 x205. ■
13

VehicleViews

Every day motorists are

endangered by countless road

alligators on highways

everywhere. These road alligators are

mean, ugly and dangerous!

Yet, road alligators can easily be

tamed just by paying better attention

to a few basic rules.

Rule one: Check your air pressure

on a regular basis using a properly

calibrated tire gauge. Do NOT thump

your tires to determine if they need

air. If you think you can really

determine whether your tires need

air by thumping them, you might as

well thump the hood of your truck at

the same time to determine if you

need oil.

Rule two: Be certain each tire in a

dual wheel position carries the same

amount of air as it’s mate and that

both tires are within an acceptable

diameter range. Otherwise, both tires

are in jeopardy and you are setting

yourself up for a tire failure -- and

maybe even two tire failures. The

TRIB web site, www.retread.org, has

an excellent article titled Matching of

Tires on Dual Wheel Positions. The

article provides guidelines on how to

properly maintain duals. It is worth

reading and sharing with everyone in

your organization who touches tires.

It can be found in our Tires from A-Z

section on our web site.

Rule three: Check your vehicle

alignment on a regular basis. A

properly done front-end alignment

doesn't cost, it pays! Your drivers will

love the difference a properly aligned

vehicle makes and so will your tires.

The Tire Retread Information Bureau

has a vested interest in continually

bringing you information about

proper tire maintenance. We want

your tires, hopefully retreads, to be

trouble free so that you can

concentrate on more important

things than being stuck on the side

of the highway at three in the

morning after having thrown an

alligator on the highway.

You CAN do it. Be brave. Tame that

alligator! We will all be better off if

you do.

For a free Retread Tire Information

Packet which includes our booklet,

The Importance of Proper Tire

Inflation, and a video about tire

maintenance, contact the Tire

Retread Information Bureau toll free

at 888-473-8732 or by e-mail:

info@retread.org. We will also be

happy to arrange for a tour of a

retread plant close to where you live.

This is GUARANTEED to make you

a believer in today's modern

retreads.

Contact: Harvey Brodsky at: (831)-

372-1917 or info@retread.org ■

TAME THAT ALLIGATOR!

You CAN be an Alligator Tamer. It’s easy!
VehicleViews

14

I

magine if nine out of 10 of your

fleet vehicles contained faulty

safety belts. A design flaw had

put the shoulder strap across a

driver’s neck and placed the lap belt

too high. What if there was a crash

and, because the driver put the

misplaced shoulder strap behind him,

he suffered a head injury?

You would have a problem.

America’s parents have a problem.

Only one out of 10 of their four- to

eight-year-olds are riding in booster

seats, the car seats designed to

elevate children so the safety belt fits

them properly. That means nearly nine

out of 10 are not properly restrained.

Would you feel safe letting nine out of

10 of your fleet drivers leave the lot

not properly restrained?

Parents should think the same way,

and more are recognizing the value of

booster seats. Still, as we prepare for

Child Passenger Safety Week this

February, we should redouble our

efforts to get children into booster

seats. 

The risks are real. When children are

graduated too quickly to a safety belt

alone, they run a higher risk of head

and stomach injuries in a crash, as

well as the risk of being thrown out of

the car or truck. One study showed

that children age two to five who are

moved to safety belts too early are

four times more likely to sustain a

serious head injury than those

restrained in child safety seats or

booster seats.

Safety belts are designed for adults.

Booster seats fill the gap, positioning

children too large for toddler car

seats up higher so the belt fits them

properly. Booster seats typically cost

between $15 and $125, and can be

found at many large discount and

baby product stores or web sites.

The National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration recommends all

children use booster seats at least

until age eight, unless they are at

least 4-feet 9-inches tall (and few

are). 

A booster seat is one of the four

steps to child passenger safety:

• Infants should be placed in rearfacing infant seats in the back seat

until they are at least one year old.

• As they get older, and become

toddlers, children who are between

20 and 40 pounds should be placed

in forward-facing toddler seats.

• After about age four, children then

move to booster seats until they

are tall enough for the final step –

safety belts alone. (Children 12

years old and younger should

always remain in the back seat,

regardless of how they are

restrained). 

There was a time when car seat use

was rare. But now, nearly all parents

and caregivers place their infants in

rear-facing car seats and most put

toddlers in car seats. Then car seat

use rates plummet after age four.

Anyone who manages a fleet of

vehicles knows how important it is to

have drivers properly restrained. As

we approach child passenger safety

week this year, consider making a

recommendation that reaches beyond

your fleet lot. Consider suggesting a

booster seat to a parent or caregiver

eager to protect the most precious

cargo they know – their kids. ■

Child Passenger Safety Week

February 8 – 14, 2004 
VehicleViews

15

The seventh annual National

Sleep Awareness Week®

campaign that is helping to

change Americans’ understanding

about sleep takes place March 29-

April 4. Sponsored by the National

Sleep Foundation (NSF), the weeklong effort promotes the importance

of a good night’s sleep for good

health, safety, productivity and

overall well-being. It takes place the

week leading up to the return of

Daylight Saving Time, ending the

morning when clocks “spring ahead”

throughout the country, and too many

people choose to lose an hour of

sleep.

A highlight of the Week is the release

of NSF’s annual Sleep in America

poll, which this year will focus on the

sleep habits of children and their

primary caregivers. The poll is

scheduled to be released on Tuesday,

March 30. 

Another key event -- NSF’s Fourth

annual “Night of a Thousand

Dreams” gala -- takes place Monday

evening, March 29, at the Ritz

Carleton Hotel in Washington, DC.

The Gala provides the setting for

NSF to present its “Sleep

Leadership Awards” and the

opportunity to raise funds for its

education, research, and policy

programs.

The National Sleep Awareness Week

campaign is supported by a coalition

of diverse partners including sleep

centers who comprise NSF’s

Community Sleep Awareness

Partners® (CSAP) program, and

Cooperative Co-Sponsors, who

include state and federal agencies,

health, education and safety

organizations, unions, and

associations who help to increase

awareness of sleep issues through

their own local and organizational

initiatives. Many partners schedule

an array of activities and events

during National Sleep Awareness

Week, ranging from sleep-related

articles in internal publications to

health fairs, “sleep walks” and even

snoring contests – all to highlight the

importance of a good night’s sleep

and the treatment of sleep disorders.

For the latest National Sleep

Awareness Week information,

activities, poll results, and a list of

partners and sponsors, visit NSF’s

Web site, www.sleepfoundation.org. 

National Sleep Awareness Week is a

registered trademark of the National

Sleep Foundation. Use of this

trademark and the related logo in

advertising or promotions of any sort

is limited to 2004 National Sleep

Awareness Week sponsors,

Community Sleep Awareness

Partners, and Cooperative Cosponsors. ■

NSF’s National Sleep Awareness Week® Campaign

Scheduled For March 29-April 4

2004 Theme is “Sleep! It’s A Healthy Choice”

GSA plays it safe!
VehicleViews

16

• Seven new provisions in the

regulation address the following:

disqualification for driving while

suspended, disqualified, or

causing a fatality; emergency

disqualification of drivers posing

an imminent hazard; expanded

definition of serious traffic

violations; extended driver record

check; new notification

requirements; masking

prohibition; disqualification for

violations obtained while driving a

noncommercial motor vehicle

(CMV). 

• The Motor Carrier Safety

Improvement Act of 1999 requires

the agency to withhold Motor

Carrier Safety Assistance

Program grant funds from the

states if they do not comply with

the regulation. 

• A new masking prohibition does

not prevent a conviction from

appearing on a driver's record and

requires making conviction

information available to

authorized parties. 

• Applicants for an initial CDL, and

those transferring or renewing a

CDL, must provide state driver

licensing agency personnel with

the name of all states where

previously licensed for the past

ten years to drive any type of

motor vehicle, allowing state

officials to obtain an applicant's

complete driving record. The final

rule limits this record check to

CDL drivers initially renewing

their license after the effective

date of this rulemaking. 

• States must maintain a CDL

driver-history record noting an

individual's convictions for state

or local motor-vehicle trafficcontrol laws while operating any

type of motor vehicle. Information

on these convictions and other

licensing actions must be kept a

minimum of three years.

Disqualifying offenses range from

three years to life. 

• The Federal Motor Carrier Safety

Administration (FMCSA) may

prohibit a state from issuing,

renewing, transferring, or

upgrading CDLs if the agency

determined the state is in

substantial noncompliance with

the CDL licensing and sanctioning

requirements. 

• The new rule specifies applicants

must pass both a knowledge and a

skills test to obtain a new schoolbus endorsement. The regulation

requires the FMCSA to create a

new endorsement CDL holders

must obtain to operate a school

bus. 

• Under the new regulation, a driver

may apply for a CDL from another

state if the state he lives in was

decertified and if the other state

to which he applies elects to issue

that license. States are

authorized, but not required, to

issue nonresident CDLs to such

drivers. 

• States with a school-buslicensing program meeting or

exceeding FMCSA requirements

may continue to license schoolbus drivers with that program.

States have the option to not

require applicants for the schoolbus endorsement to take the skills

test when the applicant has

experience driving a school bus

and meets safety criteria. 

• A CDL disqualifying offenses

section was revised to show driver

violations for CDL holders and a

CMV. The charts describe an

offense and the ensuing penalty. 

• The regulations add these serious

traffic violations: driving a CMV

without obtaining a CDL; driving a

CMV without a CDL in the driver's

possession; and driving a CMV

without the proper CDL and/or

endorsement. Driver

disqualification can result if a

driver is convicted two or more

times within a three-year period. 

• States must be connected to the

CDLIS and the National Driver

FACT SHEET

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)

Continued on page 17
VehicleViews

17

In 2002, 1,181 people were killed in work zone-related

crashes. Four out of five of them were motorists.

Events held during the 5th annual National Work Zone

Awareness Week will increase media and public

awareness of the importance of staying alert and

obeying the speed limit while driving through work

zones.

Register (NDR) to exchange

information about CMV drivers

and traffic convictions and

disqualifications. A state must

check CDLIS, NDR, and the

current State of licensure before a

CDL can be issued, renewed,

upgraded, or transferred to make

sure the driver is not disqualified

or has a license from more than

one state. Employers, including

motor carriers, are authorized

users of CDLIS data and,

therefore, have access to an

employees' or an applicants'

driving record. 

• New notification requirements

necessitate that states inform

CDLIS and the state issuing the

CDL no later than 10 days after

disqualifying, revoking,

suspending, or canceling a CDL,

or refusing to allow someone for

at least 60 days to operate a CMV.

Beginning three years after the

final rule's effective

date,notification of trafficviolation convictions must occur

within 30 days of the conviction.

Six years after the final rule's

effective date, notification of

traffic-violation convictions must

occur within ten days of the

conviction. 

• States whose CDL program may

fail to meet compliance

requirements, but are making a

"good-faith effort" to comply with

the CDL requirements, are eligible

to receive emergency CDL grants. 

• The FMCSA decided to merge all

the CDL provisions into one final

rule with one effective date

because they were so closely

related to one another. ■

FACT SHEET from page 16
VehicleViews

18

signs to alert drivers to traffic

incidents, such as crash sites, closed

exits and detours. It also provides for

location and direction of travel

reference signs that will be posted at

shorter intervals than the current

“mileposts,” such as every one-tenth

mile. These signs will help drivers and

emergency responders in reporting

and locating sites of breakdowns,

crashes, and other highway incidents,

particularly in complex urban areas.

“While repairs and improvements are

needed on our nation’s streets and

highways to enhance safety and

mobility, we also must find the right

practices that can help to reduce the

vulnerability of construction workers

and prevent death or injury,” FHWA

Administrator Mary E. Peters said.

The MUTCD assures consistency in

traffic control devices so motorists

know what to expect no matter where

in the United States they travel. It is a

part of FHWA’s continuing efforts to

improve the safety and operational

efficiency of the transportation

system for all Americans.

For more information contact 

Nancy Singer at: (202) 366-0660 ■

Enhancements in the 2003 edition of

the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control

Devices (MUTCD) include increased

letter size on street signs and turnpath pavement markings at

intersections meant to help older

drivers. For pedestrians, the new

manual includes guidelines for

“animated eyes,” electronic signs that

mimic back-and-forth eye movements

to serve as a reminder to look both

ways before crossing a street;

“countdown signals” that tell

pedestrians the time remaining to

cross a street safely; and crosswalk

markings and “in-street” pedestrian

signs that focus the eyes of the driver

on crosswalk activity.

The revised manual also includes new

provisions to help pedestrians with

disabilities. For example, the use of

barriers to assist in safe navigation of

walkways and audible devices to

communicate sign information will

assist visually impaired individuals. To

improve safety for bicyclists, the

manual calls for new bicycle lane

markings and symbols.

The new manual will help improve

safety for highway construction

workers by requiring high-visibility

clothing and greater use of barricade

devices. It allows fluorescent pink

Fluorescent pink signs to alert

drivers to traffic crashes, large

print on road signs for older

drivers, and "animated eyes" to

caution pedestrians at intersections

are among the improvements federal

highway engineers are recommending

states consider to make travel safer

and easier. The recommendations are

included in the Federal Highway

Administration ́s (FHWA) update of a

publication used nationally by state

and local transportation agencies in

designing and placing traffic signs

and signals and pavement markings.

These new standards and guidance

for traffic control devices, like

highway signs and traffic signals, will

increase safety and mobility for older

drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and

construction workers, U.S.

Transportation Secretary Norman Y.

Mineta said.

“Safety is the Bush administrations’s

top transportation priority, and our

new guidance underscores that

commitment by taking into account

the diverse safety needs of many

audiences,” Secretary Mineta said.

“At the same time, these

recommendations seek to make roads

more user-friendly for all drivers and

to benefit everyone.”

Changes in Traffic Control Devices to Help Older

Drivers, Pedestrians, Bicyclists, Workers
VehicleViews

19

Citing the lack of substantial

improvement in the number

of alcohol-related fatalities

since the mid-1990s, the National

Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) released a

high priority comprehensive

departmental plan to significantly

reduce impaired driving on the

nation’s roads in the coming years.

The report proposes a multidisciplinary approach to address the

complexities of the legal, social

health and safety infrastructures

involved in control of the impaired

driving problem.The National

Institutes for Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism estimate the total cost of

alcohol impairments, including

medical consequences, crime, and

accidental injury to be $184.6 billion

annually. The costs of alcohol-related

motor vehicle fatalities account for

8.5 percent of this total.

The report also suggests generating

vehicle-based solutions and

improving the roadway environment.

It identifies six critical

countermeasures, all related to law

enforcement and prosecution of DWI

offenses, including specialized

courts and strong alcoholic beverage

control policy for minors. It offers

five critical infrastructure initiatives

for states to make their impaired

driver control system more effective. 

Key among the countermeasures

cited in the report to address

impaired driving is high visibility

traffic enforcement, enhanced

support for DWI prosecution and

adjudication, and medical screening

of high-risk populations for alcohol

use problems. These three priorities

will be the department’s focus on

impaired driving prevention in the

immediate future.

"We already know what works to

stop impaired driving," said NHTSA

Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge,

M.D. "These strategies will save

lives today, if we work together to

implement them in every

community."

The report concludes, "NHTSA will

continue to explore ways to achieve

effective collaborative efforts with

those who have the biggest stake in

this issue - the citizens of this nation

that absorb the cost of this problem

in medical costs, lost productivity

and human suffering from the loss of

loved ones – the victims of impaired

driving."

The report joins previous reports on

safety belt use, vehicle compatibility

and rollover mitigation. All are now

available on the agency's World Wide

Web site at

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/IPTReports

.html, and also on the U.S.

Department of Transportation’s

docket management system at

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/exit.cfm?lin

k=http://dms.dot.gov/.

The docket numbers for each of the

respective reports are Safety Belt

Use, NHTSA-2003-14620; Vehicle

Compatibility, NHTSA-2003-14623;

Rollover Mitigation, NHTSA-2003-

14622; and Impaired Driving,

NHTSA-2003-14621.

Written comments may be submitted

to the Docket Management System,

U.S. Department of Transportation,

PL 401, 400 Seventh Street, S.W.,

Washington, DC 20590-0001.

Comments also may be submitted to

the docket electronically at

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/exit.cfm?lin

k=http://dms.dot.gov/. In every case,

the comments should refer to the

docket numbers. ■

NHTSA Unveils Strategy to Reduce Impaired

Driving, Sets Priorities for Immediate Future
20

U.S. General Services Administration

GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy

Federal Vehicle Policy Division (MTV)

Washington, DC 20405

______________________________________

Official Business

Penalty For Private Use $300

First Class Mail

Postage and Fees Paid

GSA

Permit No. G-30

http://www.gsa.gov

VehicleViews

20

Federal Vehicle

Policy Division

(MTV)

The Federal Vehicle Policy

Division’s mission is to

ensure the effective and

efficient use of the Federal

Government’s 590,000 motor

vehicles and the expenditure of

close to $2 billion annually on fleet

operations through innovative

policies, adoption of best

practices, effective

communication, and leading edge

technologies.

Director

Russ Pentz

(202) 208-0572

Senior Analyst

John (Q) Adams

(202) 501-0758

Senior Analyst

Mike Moses

(202) 501-2507

Connie Aaron

(202) 208-7634

Laurie Feld

(202) 219-1821

Ed Lawler

(202) 501-3354

Jacquie Perry

(202) 501-3347

Stewart Randall

(202) 501-4469

Nate Reed

(510) 482-8904

Please address your questions or comments concerning Vehicle Views to

the editor: Jacquie C. Perry (202) 501-3347 or by e-mail to

Jacquie.Perry@gsa.gov

Graphic Design: Tom Pearlman

GSA Office of Citizen Services and Communications