Zero crash deaths and serious injuries

Truck Safety Care2 Petition” to Washington, DC, one year later on May

5, 2014. At that time, they met with administrators from FMCSA and

NHTSA and discussed, at length, their concerns about truck safety issues.

Since that time, they have set up a non-profit, AnnaLeah & Mary for

Truck Safety, to promote highway safety research and federal regulations

to protect motorists, pedestrians, & cyclists. And, in fact, there has been

some progress with the issuing of a final rule for Electronic Logging De-

vices and the initiation of rulemaking steps related to underride guards

and minimum liability insurance for truck companies.

However, we are concerned that these safety measures, as well as oth-

ers, are being unnecessarily delayed and/or weakened by the restrictions

placed upon the rulemaking process by President Clinton’s Executive Or-

der 12866. As you know, the Department of Transportation makes high-

way safety rules based upon how much safety measures will cost. Instead,

we want to establish a U.S. Vision Zero goal and move toward Zero

Deaths, Zero Injuries, Zero Fear of Traffic.

One of the biggest challenges to making change is the cost/benefit anal-

ysis. On the one side there are lives to be saved and on the other side

there are companies working to make money. The trick is to try and meet

everyone’s needs. The solution has to be effective in saving lives while

513

514 CHAPTER 12. PETITION LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

still being affordable for companies so that they can make the changes

necessary without a lot of struggle.

The problem comes in when human life and health get the short end of

the stick. The result is that many safety measures are blocked because they

would cost more to implement than the “worth” of the “small” number of

human lives which would be saved. That’s just not right.

Therefore we are asking you to write an Executive Order which would set

a Vision Zero goal for our country. This EO will pave the way for stronger

safety measures to be established in a more timely manner; saved lives will

be a higher priority than saved dollars.

This Executive Order should also provide DOT with resources and au-

thority to hold appropriate parties responsible for implementing the rules,

as well as hold them accountable to meet performance outcomes which

ensure human life and health. Furthermore, the Executive Order should

include a requirement for annual progress reports.

On average, 33,000 people die each year in crashes on our roads. Our fam-

ilies cannot continue to sustain this unacceptably high number of losses

and injuries. We urge you to take immediate action so that more lives will

not be lost and to assure us that safety is your number one priority.

Sincerely,

The AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety Vision Zero Petition on

Change.org

1

1

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars

13

Letter of Support for the

AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety

Vision Zero Executive Order

Petition

Due to a shared interest in reducing preventable traffic fatalities and

serious injuries, we are working together to raise awareness and garner

widespread support for a national Vision Zero Goal and to petition

President Obama to sign a Vision Zero Executive Order.

This effort is supported by the following individuals and organizations:

Jerry & Marianne Karth

AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety

Rocky Mount, North Carolina

http://annaleahmary.com/

Andy Young

Husband, father, truck owner, Class A CDL driver, truck accident at-

torney, and trial attorney fighting for you and your loved ones to have a

SafeDriveHome, Cleveland, Ohio

http://www.nphm.com/about-us/attorneys/andrew-young/

515

516

CHAPTER 13. LETTER OF SUPPORT

Neil Arason

Road Safety Researcher, Author of No Accident

Victoria, British Columbia

http://neil.arason.ca/

Lance Hamm

Road Safety Advocate

Kingsville, Texas

Stephen Hadley, Coordinator

Underride Network, Victim/Survivor

Washougal, Washington

http://www.underridenetwork.org/

Emily Stein, President, Safe Roads Alliance

Daughter against distracted driving, safety advocate who aims to increase

awareness of the dangers caused by distracted driving

https://twitter.com/emstein30?lang=en

Louis Lombardo

Auto Safety Researcher and Advocate

Publisher of safety resources at Care for Crash Victims

http://www.careforcrashvictims.com/

Carol S. “Cally” Houck, Attorney at Law

Mother and Survivor of Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car

Act

Advocate and activist for highway safety and Auto Industry accountability

Ojai, California

Support the Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act

1

1

https://www.change.org/p/rep-fred-upton-repfredupton-support-

the-raechel-and-jacqueline-houck-safe-rental-car-act

517

Laura Christian

Birth mother of Amber Marie Rose, who died in 2006 due to the ignition

switch defect that GM covered up for a decade

https://www.facebook.com/gmrecall.survivors/?fref=ts

John Lannen, Director

Truck Safety Coalition

http://trucksafety.org/

Michael Lemov, author

Car Safety Wars: 100 Years of Technology, Politics, & Death

http://www.amazon.com/Car-Safety-Wars-Technology-

Politics/dp/161147745X

http://www.johnemossfoundation.org/bio/lemov.htm

Leah Shahum

Founder & Director, Vision Zero Network

Nonprofit campaign supporting Vision Zero efforts across the U.S.

http://visionzeronetwork.org/

Paul and Sue Oberhauser,

National Co-Chairs, Traffic Safety Coalition

http://www.trafficsafetycoalition.com/

Melissa Wandall

President of the National Coalition for Safer Roads

The Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act of Florida

Reducing the Risk at our Intersections

http://www.MelissaWandall.com

14

Selected Comments From Current

Executive Order Petition Signers

We need truck laws to improve highway safety Trucks kill too

many people every year.

—Pamela Batchelor, Hendersonville, NC

I’m signing because as a Texan, my state has shamefully av-

eraged 3,500 annual road deaths in the past 20 years. Based

on historical data, I seriously doubt the Texas state legislature

or state DOT has the skill or the desire to improve in the

area of fatality reduction on Texas roads. For the safety of all

road-users, the USA needs the help of a national Vision Zero

strategy.

—Lance Hamm, Kingsville, TX

1

Vision zero in road safety is an imperative public health goal,

and one that is now fully realistic to embark upon.

—Neil Arason, Victoria, Canada

2

As President of the National Coalition for Safer Roads

http:

//ncsrsafety.org

we believe in working together to cut

down on crashes and save lives! Please! We urge you to sign

this life saving petition.

1

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/367963670

2

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/366095674

519

520

CHAPTER 14. SELECTED COMMENTS

—Melissa Wandall, Bradenton, FL

3

I lost my dad due to a crash that was 100% preventable. Vi-

sion Zero works, and if we take it on as a country, we can dra-

matically reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries.

Motor Vehicle crashes are the #1 killer for people aged 3-34.

This must change.

—emily stein, Brooklyn, NY

4

I don’t think that people should die as an accepted cost of our

transportation infrastructure.

—Kristin Dubrule, Seattle, WA

5

I’m signing because I don’t want to we another family go

through what the Karth family has.

—tina ogg, Grand Rapids, MI

6

Road safety is everybody’s business and responsibility.

—Joan Moore, san francisco, CA

7

I lost my mother in a truck crash.

—Shannon Shumaker, Saint Petersburg, FL

8

I am signing this petition as a widow and now single mother of

three children because a tired or distracted truck driver killed

my husband while he was inspecting a bridge repair in his

closed-off work zone. The pain of losing a loved one to these

preventable crashes is beyond words. Losing a father at such a

young age will leave emotional scars for decades, and our soci-

ety doesn’t fully understand or offer appropriate resources for

coping.

3

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/380563126

4

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/374802846

5

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/369845466

6

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/369638010

7

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/368811686

8

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/368558002

521

—Amy Fletcher, Perrysburg, OH

9

I am signing in honor of my late wife Tamara Mills-Hadley

whom lost her life because a phoney underride guard law was

passed that was not meant to save any lives, instead it just

legalized the guards already on the road in order to save money

and garner campaign donations. We also lost a family friend

to unsafe trucks. No more!

—Stephen Hadley, Washougal, WA

10

I’m signing because no one should have to suffer a sudden,

unexpected loss of a loved one due to a preventable crash.

—Andrew Young, North Ridgeville, OH

11

WE

NEED

A

VISION

ZERO

GOAL

AND

SIGNS…NOW TO SAVE LIVES!!!

—DONNA LAGOMARSINO, Wilmington, MA

12

I’m signing because the loss of one human life in the pursuit

of profit is wrong! Safety first!

—Hershel Hartford, Fayetteville, AR

13

I’m signing because tragedies like this one can be avoided.

—Aaron Kiefer, Morrisville, NC

14

9

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/368460858

10

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/367847506

11

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/367268046

12

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/366575618

13

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/366309238

14

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/366298758

522

CHAPTER 14. SELECTED COMMENTS

Because business shoots for zero defects. Because my wife is

dead and two sons seriously injured, one permanently, when

an overworked trucker fell asleep at the wheel.

—Ed Slattery, Lutherville-Timonium, MD

15

I’m signing for Susan Slattery!

—Camille Dobson, LUTHERVILLE, MD

16

15

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/366099098

16

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-

sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars/c/366132414

A

Vision Zero Posts from

AnnaLeahMary.com

See all Vision Zero posts here: annaleahmary.com/tag/vision-zero/

1

A.1

Chronologically archived:

1. Careless Attitudes Can Contribute to Unnecessary Deaths

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/04/careless-attitudes-

can-contribute-to-unnecessary-deaths/

2. A Low Tolerance for Crash Fatalities

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/05/a-low-tolerance-for-

crash-fatalities/

3. The Future of Trucking; Who pays for the costs of safer roads?

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/06/the-future-of-

trucking-who-pays-for-the-costs-of-safer-roads/

4. Crocodile Tears (Cost/Benefit Analysis) & Vision Zero Goal of

No Crash Fatalities

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/06/crocodile-tears-

costbenefit-analysis-vision-zero-goal-of-no-crash-

fatalities/

5. Let’s Move From: “A Failure of Compassion Tactics of

Conceal–Delay–Deny While Fiery Crashes Occur” to “A Vision

of Zero Fatalities”

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/07/lets-

move-from-a-failure-of-compassion-tactics-of-conceal-

%C2%AD%E2%80%90delay-%C2%AD%E2%80%90deny-while-fiery-

crashes-occur-to-a-vision-of-zero-fatalities/

1

http://annaleahmary.com/tag/vision-zero/

523

524

APPENDIX A. VISION ZERO POSTS

6. Does a Vehicle Manufacturer Bear Responsibility for Death and

Injury Caused By a Safety Defect in Their Product?

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/07/does-a-vehicle-

manufacturer-bear-responsibility-for-death-and-

injury-caused-by-a-safety-defect-in-their-product/

7. Australian Engineers Champion the Cause of Better Truck

Underride Protection

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/09/australian-engineers-

champion-the-cause-of-better-truck-underride-

protection/

8. Vision Zero: Avoiding Collisions and “Second Collisions”

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/09/vision-zero-avoiding-

collisions-and-second-collisions/

9. Vision Zero: Zero Crash Deaths & Zero Serious Injuries

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/09/vision-zero/

10. Urge DOT to Adopt a Vision Zero Policy: Save Lives Not Dollars

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/09/urge-dot-to-adopt-a-

vision-zero-policy-save-lives-not-dollars/

11. Can a Petition Really Change Federal Rulemaking Policy &

Reduce Crash Deaths

http:

//annaleahmary.com/2015/09/can-a-petition-really-

change-federal-rulemaking-policy-reduce-crash-deaths/

12. What would a DOT Vision Zero policy look like in actual

implementation?

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/what-

would-a-dot-vision-zero-policy-look-like-in-actual-

implementation/

13. Human lives shouldn’t be a nickel and dime proposition by Isaac J.

Karth

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/human-lives-shouldnt-

be-a-nickel-and-dime-proposition-by-isaac-j-karth/

14. Tools for getting your local media on board with Vision Zero &

Underride Research

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/tools-for-getting-

your-local-media-on-board-with-vision-zero-underride-

research/

15. Automated Vehicles: A Vision Zero policy would make sure that

safety is the priority in new technology

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/automated-vehicles-a-

vision-zero-policy-would-make-sure-that-safety-is-

the-priority-in-new-technology/

A.1. CHRONOLOGICALLY ARCHIVED:

525

16. THE FIVE WAYS ENGINEERS DEFLECT CRITICISM

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/the-five-ways-

engineers-deflect-criticism/

17. Act now to save someone’s life in the future

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/act-now-to-save-

someones-life-in-the-future/

18. When will we figure out that somebody’s getting away with

murder?

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/when-will-we-

figure-out-that-somebodys-getting-away-with-murder/

19. Watch Volvo’s Truck Collision Warning Emergency Braking

System

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/watch-volvos-

truck-collision-warning-emergency-braking-system/

20. “Advocates garnering signatures”: front page story in Rocky

Mount Telegram Almost 11,000 signatures!

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/advocates-garnering-

signatures-front-page-story-in-rocky-mount-telegram-

almost-11000-signatures/

21. “Advocates Garnering Signatures!”. . . almost 11,000 in 11 days!

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/advocates-garnering-

signatures-almost-11000-in-11-days/

22. Why are we devoting our lives to pushing for a DOT Vision Zero

policy?

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/why-are-we-devoting-

our-lives-to-pushing-for-a-dot-vision-zero-policy/

23. Rear-ending a truck should be a survivable crash. Why isn’t it?

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/rear-ending-a-truck-

should-be-a-survivable-crash-why-isnt-it/

24. What is an acceptable number of crash deaths?

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/what-is-an-

acceptable-number-of-crash-deaths/

25. Numbers are funny. 1 (crash story) is a tragedy, 1 million (crash

stories) is a statistic

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/numbers-are-funny-1-

crash-story-is-a-tragedy-1-million-crash-stories-is-

a-statistic/

26. Towards Zero—People on the streets of Melbourne are asked how

they feel about crash deaths

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/towards-zero-people-

526

APPENDIX A. VISION ZERO POSTS

on-the-streets-of-melbourne-are-asked-how-they-feel-

about-crash-deaths/

27. Digital photo/video montage of the countless people who have had

their lives cut short by a tragic crash

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/digital-photovideo-

montage-of-the-countless-people-who-have-had-their-

lives-cut-short-by-a-tragic-crash/

28. JFK: The Passing of the Torch; Spontaneous combustion ignited

by a petition signed by UM students

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/jfk-the-passing-of-

the-torch-spontaneous-combustion-ignited-by-a-

petition-signed-by-um-students-2/

29. Blindsided By Unexpected Loss; The many facets of grief

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/blindsided-by-

unexpected-loss-the-many-facets-of-grief/

30. Mother of Underride Crash Victims Demanding Tougher Truck

Safety Rules

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/mother-of-underride-

crash-victims-demanding-tougher-truck-safety-rules/

31. Complaint about proposed underride guard regulation: Not Cost

Effective

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/11/complaint-

about-proposed-underride-guard-regulation-not-cost-

effective/

32. Do we really have to beg our legislators to vote for safety instead of

profitability? Give me a break!

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/11/do-we-really-have-to-

beg-our-legislators-to-vote-for-safety-instead-

instead-of-profitability-give-me-a-break/

33. Facing Grief as a Whole Person

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/11/facing-grief-as-a-

whole-person/

34. Highway Safety Rulemaking: Maybe we need to call for a statute

which “requires another regulatory approach.” Just sayin’. . .

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/11/highway-safety-

rulemaking-maybe-we-need-to-call-for-a-statute-which-

requires-another-regulatory-approach-just-sayin/

35. Particularly poignant photos of 3 young girls who lost their lives 6

short years later

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/11/particularly-

A.1. CHRONOLOGICALLY ARCHIVED:

527

poignant-photos-of-3-young-girls-who-lost-their-

lives-6-short-years-later/

36. This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for advances in car safety

technology.

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/11/this-thanksgiving-im-

thankful-for-advances-in-car-safety-technology/

37. An Amazing Week in Truck Safety Progress

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/12/an-amazing-week-in-

truck-safety-progress/

38. A New Year’s Plea to Focus on Working Together Toward Zero

Crash Deaths Instead of Pointing the Finger of Blame

http://annaleahmary.com/2015/12/a-new-years-plea-to-

focus-on-working-together-toward-zero-crash-deaths-

instead-of-pointing-the-finger-of-blame/

39. Adopt a National Vision Zero Goal: Save lives not dollars!

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/01/adopt-a-national-

vision-zero-goal-save-lives-not-dollars/

40. Toward Zero Crash Deaths . . .if there’s just one life we can save

“we’ve got an obligation to try.” @BarackObama

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/01/toward-zero-crash-

deaths-if-theres-just-one-life-we-can-save-weve-got-

an-obligation-to-try-barackobama/

41. Obama: “We can’t accept this carnage” Let’s apply that sentiment

toward preventable highway carnage

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/01/obama-we-cant-accept-

this-carnage-lets-apply-that-sentiment-toward-

preventable-highway-carnage/

42. Actions here & there throughout the U.S. chipping away at causes

of traffic deaths

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/01/actions-

here-there-throughout-the-u-s-chipping-away-at-

causes-of-traffic-deaths/

43. “Does Vision Zero work? The Swedish Experience”

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/01/does-the-vision-zero-

work-the-swedish-experience/

44. “U.S., major automakers to announce safety accord Friday” Really?

Is it enough?

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/01/u-s-major-automakers-

to-announce-safety-accord-friday-really-is-it-enough/

528

APPENDIX A. VISION ZERO POSTS

45. With amazing technology advances, why are we slow as a snail to

solve traffic safety

problems?

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/01/with-amazing-

technology-advances-why-are-we-slow-as-a-snail-to-

solve-traffic-safety-problems/

46. Why on earth don’t we establish National Traffic Safety Standards

& require them to be adopted by States?

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/01/why-on-earth-dont-we-

establish-national-traffic-safety-standards-require-

them-to-be-adopted-by-states/

47. Should manufacturers be held to a higher standard than those

which have been proven to be ineffective?

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/01/should-manufacturers-

be-held-to-a-higher-standard-than-those-which-have-

been-proven-to-be-ineffective/

48. The effect of state regulations on truck crash fatalities

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/01/the-effect-of-state-

regulations-on-truck-crash-fatalities/

49. Saving lives in road traffic—ethical aspects

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/01/saving-lives-in-road-

traffic-ethical-aspects/

50. Can electronic road signs save lives? Crash Ahead 7 miles; Stay

Alert!

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/02/can-electronic-

road-signs-save-lives-crash-ahead-7-miles-stay-alert/

51. A pre-trip inspection left undone can change a life forever

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/02/a-pre-trip-

inspection-left-undone-can-change-a-life-forever/

52. Should executives be jailed for corporate crimes?

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/02/should-executives-be-

jailed-for-corporate-crimes/

53. Monitor truck loads with a weight-identifying sensor/camera

system

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/02/monitor-truck-

loads-with-a-weight-identifying-sensorcamera-system/

54. Cost-effectiveness vs Cost/Benefit Analysis & Vision Zero

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/02/cost-effectiveness-

vs-costbenefit-analysis-vision-zero/

55. Are you aware that Death by Motor Vehicle is one of the leading

causes of death?

http://annaleahmary.com/2016/02/are-you-

aware-that-death-by-motor-vehicle-is-one-of-the-

leading-causes-of-death/

A.2. ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF VISION ZERO POSTS:

529