Resolution 09738CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. g735
EXPRESSING TIIE CITY OF ALAMEDA'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
IIICHWAYS.; AND SUPPORTING CURRENT EFFORTS TO ALLEVIATE
PRESENT CONDITIONS
WHEREAS, the City of Ala
concerned about the incidence o
trucks on local highways; and
da has become increasingly
major traffic accidents involving
WHEREAS, the City of Alameda has received an increasing
of complaints from its citizens concerning hazardous driving pr
tices of truckers and accidents involving trucks on local highw
and city streets; and
umber
c
ys
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`0
of the fatal and 4.6% of the injury accidents during 1980; 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 hghways in the five ray lkrea counties during 1980, or about
three per month; and
WHEREAS, over one -third of these "spi.11s" resulted in sub-
stantial property damage or bodily injury or evacuation or major
traffic delay; and
WHEREAS, traffic accidents involving trucks occur at a fre-
ciuency two to three times ctreater than their propor.`tionate 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 COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ALAMEDA that:
Section 1. The City Council supports and urges the continua-
tion of current enforcement efforts by the California Highway Patrol
such as " commercial corridor" programs and "critical items inspec-
tion."
Section 2, The City Council supports and urges the continua-
tion of the self - policing efforts of the California Trucking
Association such as the Highway Safety Hotline, and educational
awareness progress for their members.
Section 3. The City 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 City Council supports measures passed by
the State Legislature increasing the scope of responsibility of
the California Highway Patrol and granting them additional enforce-
ment 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 penalities 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
Elihu Harris and State Senator Nicholas C. Petris.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution Jas
duly and regularly introduced and adopted by the Council of the City of
Alameda in regular meeting assembled on the 20th day of April
1982, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmen Diament, Gorman, Sherratt, Stone and President Corica - 5.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official
seal of said City this 21st day of April
, 1982.