OOIDA Foundation: Younger-driver stats don’t support DRIVE-Safe Act

Data from a recent study corroborate the stance the OOIDA has taken on the DRIVE-Safe Act.

The DRIVE-Safe Act would allow 18- to 20-year-old truckers to drive across state lines.

Using the American Transportation Research Institute’s study “Predicting Truck Crash Involvement 2018,” drivers aged 20-39 were the group most likely to be involved in a crash.

Statistics for violations and convictions were taken from Motor Carrier Management Information System inspection and crash data, along with Commercial Driver’s License Information System conviction data, from 2013. From Jan. 1, 2013 until Dec. 31, 2014, the drivers in this analysis were involved in 31,098 FMCSA reported crashes.

“For the 11 conviction categories predicted to more likely be involved in future crashes, drivers between the ages of 20 and 39 had the highest percentage in all categories,” the OOIDA Foundation wrote in its one-pager on the topic.

The 11 conviction categories and the ages most likely to have a conviction are:

• Improper lane/location – 25-34.
• Reckless/careless/inattentive – 20-29.
• Improper/Erratic lane changes – 25-29 and 75-79.
• Improper turn convictions – 25-34.
• Following too closely – 20-34.
• Drivers with any conviction – 20-34.
• Speeding by 15 mph or more – 20-34.
• Speeding by 1-15 mph – 20-29.
• Driving too fast for conditions – 20-24.
• Failure to obey stop sign – 25-39.
• Failure to obey traffic signal – 25-39 and 80-84.

The 10 violation categories and the ages most likely to have a violation are:

• Improper lane change – 75-79.
• Hours-of-service violations – 20-34.
• False or no log book (pre-ELD mandate) – 20-29.
• Speeding violations – 80-89.
• Disqualified driver – 25-39.
• Any moving violation – 25-29 and 80-84.
• Failure to obey traffic control device – 20-34.
• Out of service – 85-89.
• Seat belt – 20-24.
• Size and weight – 20-29 and 80-84.

The OOIDA Foundation said the numbers argue against the DRIVE-Safe Act.

“These facts do not support the case for allowing younger drivers to drive in interstate commerce,” the OOIDA Foundation wrote.

The catalyst for the DRIVE-Safe Act has been the American Trucking Associations’ claim of a driver shortage. However, OOIDA has long claimed that there is no driver shortage. Recently, a federal report affirmed OOIDA’s stance.

“Younger drivers – especially teenagers – generally lack the maturity and experience to operate a commercial motor vehicle at the safest levels,” OOIDA President and CEO Todd Spencer wrote in a letter to lawmakers in February. “Research consistently concludes that commercial motor vehicle drivers under the age of 21 are more likely to be involved in crashes. In some states, teenagers entering the apprentice program created by the legislation would have only recently received a full driver’s license to operate an automobile, let alone a commercial motor vehicle.”