The Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Act of 2011 (S. 1233) and (H.R. 1706) would provide a tax credit equal to 50 percent of the cost of any qualified commercial vehicle safety system that is placed into service during the tax year. The bills were introduced to the U.S. Senate on June 20, 2011, and to the House of Representatives on May 4, 2011.
The bills recognize brake stroke monitoring systems, lane departure warning systems, collision warning/mitigation systems and vehicle stability systems as technologies that have the potential to improve overall highway safety. Offering tax incentives to fleets and owner-operators that use one or more of the active safety technologies included in the bills could help drivers improve highway safety and potentially mitigate accidents on our nation’s roadways, Bendix claims, adding that safety is increasing important for fleets and owner-operators under the new CSA regulations.
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report that between 1999 and 2009, more than 57,000 fatalities resulted from almost 50,000 crashes involving large trucks and buses. In addition to injury and loss of life, Bendix says accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles can result in lost time due to out-of-service conditions; the potential for extensive cleanup costs resulting from the accident; and unexpected traffic delays for everyone sharing the roadway. Bendix believes these bills have the potential to significantly accelerate the implementation of these valuable safety technologies — such as electronic stability control, collision mitigation and more — that can help drivers prevent these incidents.
“The Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Act of 2011 will help make critical active safety technologies even more accessible for today’s safety-conscious fleets and owner-operators,” says Fred Andersky, Bendix director of government relations. “Bendix has long been committed to developing technologies designed to help drivers improve highway safety, while also delivering cost-effective solutions to help make our nation’s roadways safer. We fully support H.R. 1706 and S. 1233 and the legislators who are working to make these safety technologies even more affordable.”
H.R. 1706 was sponsored by Congressmen Geoff Davis (R-Ky.) and Michael Thompson (D-Calif.). It is currently co-sponsored by Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.); David Dreier (R-Calif.); Michael Michaud (D-Maine); Gary Peters (D-Mich.); Sue Myrick (R-N.C.); and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.).
S. 1233 was sponsored by Sen. Debbie Anne Stabenow (D-Mich.).
