1982-081-Expressing The Town Of Los Gatos' Concern Over The Frequency Of Major Traffic Accidents In The Area Involving Commercial TrucksRESOLUTION NO. 1982 -81
A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS' CONCERN
OVER THE FREQUENCY OF MAJOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN THE
AREA INVOLVING COMMERCIAL TRUCKS: EXPRESSING CONCERN
OVER HAZARDOUS DRIVING PRACTICES OF TRUCKERS ON LOCAL
HIGHWAYS: AND SUPPORTING CURRENT EFFORTS TO ALLEVIATE
PRESENT CONDITIONS.
WHEREAS, the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos has become increasingly
concerned about the incidence of major .traffic accidents involving
trucks on local highways; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council has received an increasing number of complaints
from local residents concerning hazardous driving practices of
truckers and accidents involving trucks on local highways and city
streets; and
WHEREAS, while "trucks" (commercial vehicles of unladen weight exceeding
6,000 lbs.) comprise only 2.29% of the total registered motor
vehicles in the State of California but were involved in 9.9% of
the fatal and 4.6% of the injury accidents during 1980; and
WHEREAS, truck drivers were found to be at fault in 28.2% of the fatal
accidents and 37.8% of the injury accidents in the State during 1980,
and in 90% of these cases driver error was the cause; and
WHEREAS, the single largest cause of truck -at -fault accidents was excessive
speed (32.4 %) while another 57.6% was other negligent, improper or
hazardous driving techniques; and
WHEREAS, accidents involving the spillage of hazardous materials have become
increasingly common, with 32 hazardous spills occurring on state
highways in the five bay area counties during 1980; and
WHEREAS, over one -third of these "spills" resulted in substantial property
damage or bodily injury or evacuation or major traffic delay; and
WHEREAS, traffic accidents involving trucks occur at a frequency 2 -3 times
greater than their proportionate numbers on the road; and
WHEREAS, accidents involving trucks generally have a greater impact because
of the size and weight of the vehicle being driven, and increasingly
because of the nature of the load being hauled;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos
that:
Section 1. The Town Council supports and urges the continuation of
current enforcement efforts by the California Highway Patrol such
as "commercial corridor" programs and "critical items" inspection.
Section 2. The Town Council supports and urges the continuation
of the self - policing efforts of the California Trucking Associa-
tion such as the Highway Safety Hotline, and educational awareness
programs for their members.
Section 3. The Town Council supports the Federal Department of
Transportation regulations aimed at alleviating the current
situation, especially the numeric code system established for
identifying hazardous substances and establishing action plans
in the event of spillage.
Section 4. The Town Council supports measures passed by the State
Legislature increasing the scope of responsibility of the California
Highway Patrol and granting them additional enforcement powers; such
as AB -1012 (9/26/81) requiring special licensing and inspections for
the transport of hazardous materials.
Section 5. The Town Council encourages the State Legislature to
speedily adopt AB -1206, establishing a Professional Driver's Code,
increasing the training and skill necessary to operate a commercial
vehicle, and increasing penalties for convictions involving Class I
vehicle operators. This seems a necessary next step as driver error
and failure to obey traffic laws are the overwhelming factors in truck -
at -fault accidents.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA, at a
regular meeting held this 19th
by the following vote:
ATTEST:
day of April , 1982,
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS Ruth Cannon, Thomas J. Ferrito
Marlyn J. Rasmussen, Brent N. Ventura and
Peter W. Siemens
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS None
F f
CLERK OF THE TOWN OF LOS G -OS
SIGNED:
MA R OFT E IUWN OF LOS GATOS
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