HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 1082 RESOLUTII'i"~"NO. 1082
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE CITY OF SARATOGA'S 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 City of Saratoga has become increasingly concerned about
the incidence of major traffic accidents involving trucks on local highways; and
WHEREAS, The City of Saratoga has received an increasing number of
complaints from its citizens concerning hazardous driving practices of
truckers on local highways and city streets; and
WHEREAS, While "(rucks" (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 cormnon, with 32 hazardous spills occurring on state
highways in the five Bay Area Counties during 1980, or about three per month; and
WHEREAS, Over one-third of these"spills" resulted in substatial property
damage or bodily injury or evacuation or major traffic delay; 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 Council of the City of Saratoga that:
Section 1. The City Council supports and urges the continuation of
current enforcement efforts by the California Highway Patrol such as
"cimmercial corridor" programs and "critical items inspection".
Section 2. The City Council supports and urges the continuation of
the self-policing efforts of the California Trucking Association such as the
Highway Safety Hotline, and educational awareness programs for their members.
Section 3. The City Council supports the federal Department of Transportation
regulations aimed at alleviating the current situation, especially the humeric
code system established for identifying hazardous substances and establishing
action plans in the event of spillage.
Section 4. The City 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 AB1012 (9/26/81)
requiring special licensing and inspections for the transport of hazardous
materials ....
The City Council encourages the legislature to grant the agency sufficient
resources to enable them to carry out their new mandates.
The City Council encourages the State legislature to speedily adopt
AB1206, 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.
Section 5. The City Clerk is hereby directed to forward copies of this
resolution to Governor Jerry Brown, Chairs of the Assembly and Senate
Committees on Transportation, the California Highway Patrol, the California
Trucking Association, Assemblyman Robert Campbell, State Senator Daniel
Boatwright, County and municipal legislative bodies throughout the State.
The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the Council of
the City of Saratoga, California, at a regular meeting thereof held on the
21st day of April , 1982, !with. Counc~3membe?s Callon, Jensen and
Watson voting yes, Councilmember Clevenger abstaining, and Councilmember Mallory
absent.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
City Clerk