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Seat belt use among drivers of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles rose to 78% last year, from 74% in 2009, the fourth straight annual increase, according to a new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study.

The number of injuries in U.S. truck related accidents declined by 18% in 2009, according to new statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Commercial Vehicle Training Association presented its Highway Safety Hall of Fame Award to Warren Hoemann, senior vice president of industry affairs at American Trucking Associations.

American Trucking Associations, joined by suppliers and other transportation groups, advised the Department of Transportation to revise or get rid of a wide range of regulations that they said are unclear, outdated or onerous.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Transportation Security Administration have conducted several dozen overlapping fleet inspections, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report about wasteful and duplicative federal programs.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has cast a spotlight on the current federal standard for truck underride guards, which it says is woefully inadequate.

Crash-test analysis by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that underride guards on tractor-trailers can fail even in relatively low-speed crashes, and the group is petitioning the federal government to require stronger guards that will remain in place during a crash and to mandate guards for more big rigs and trailers.

Safety is contagious — it benefits everyone. By sponsoring the national championships, American Trucking Associations gives thousands of drivers the opportunity to show the nation how safe truck drivers can be on the road.

Government and law-enforcement agencies at the state and local levels are continuing to be fiscally challenged with respect to resources being made available for highway safety activities.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has appointed three new members to its Medical Review Board.