Lawmakers advanced legislation that would require the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to track serious crashes involving trucking contractors hauling mail.
On Monday, May 6, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Traffic Deaths Reporting Act introduced by Congressman Gerry Connolly.
The bill would require USPS “to collect, track, and publicly report information related to deaths and injuries resulting from traffic crashes involving vehicles transporting mail.”
According to a release from Connolly’s office, at least 79 people have been killed in crashes involving USPS contractors over the past three years.
The bill requires trucking contractors to report any crash involving injuries or death within three days. Trucking companies that fail to report crashes are subject to fines, suspension of contracts, or termination of contracts.
USPS would also be required to maintain a publicly available online database including comprehensive information about injury or death crashes involving contractors.
Connolly drafted the bill in response to a report from the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) stating USPS does not have any written policies in place regarding the tracking of crashes involving trucking contractors.
“For too long, the Postal Service has taken an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach to truck safety,” said Connolly. “This legislation is about saving lives and protecting families on our nation’s roads. I am thrilled we’ve taken this big step toward getting it to the President’s desk, and I want to thank Chairman Comer for his continued partnership on that front.”
