Truck safety summit proposed
Two local politicians are proposing a regional “truck safety summit” in which Marcellus Shale companies will be asked to review their traffic safety procedures.
State Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, and state Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Jefferson, said they want to open dialogue with the energy industry in response to a surge in constituent complaints about reckless truck drivers.
Snyder said common complaints involve speeding, failure to obey traffic signs and driving in the middle of the road.
“I live here, so I’m seeing it, too,” Snyder said. “I am concerned, and I want the industry to do some things in regard to their subcontractors. I think there are some really easy things that can happen here that can stop some of this.”
Snyder said complaints escalated after the driver of a water tanker truck crossed the historic Pollocks Mill Bridge in Greene County Sept. 28, despite being four times the legal weight limit. The bridge collapsed as a result.
“They have to understand the monstrosity that they’re driving and the load that they’re carrying,” Snyder said. “A lot of Greene County roads aren’t made for this traffic.”
The truck’s driver told police he followed his global positioning system to the bridge, which concerned Solobay.
“A GPS unit is a convenient way to find an out-of-the-way restaurant, but if the driver of a 10-ton truck is using it to find a safe way through a rural county, that’s a problem,” he said in news release.
Drilling companies typically hire subcontractors to drive trucks carrying water, sand and other supplies to and from well sites. But Solobay said he believes companies have some control over their subcontractors’ safety procedures. He said the most prominent drilling companies in the region are “willing and ready” to make suggested changes.
Snyder said previous meetings to discuss traffic issues with drilling companies were successful, but more needs to be done.
“We know that drivers have been fired, contracts have been terminated and big fines have been paid,” she said in a news release. “But we need to focus on prevention, and that’s going to require a comprehensive look at the operations and regulations.”
Solobay and Snyder have already begun reaching out to industry representatives to schedule a meeting. They also are requesting input from state police and the state Department of Transportation.
“It looks like we have a lot of incidents involving individual drivers and independent contractors, but there is a bigger picture developing, and that’s what we want to look at,” Solobay said. “We’re asking everyone with vehicles on the road in the region to examine their procedures and help us find a solution that preserves both economic growth and public safety.”