Posted: | May 31, 2013 11:45 AM |
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From: | Representative Dom Costa |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | The PA Slow Down to Get Around Act |
In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation that would amend Title 75 (Vehicles) to increase the penalty for careless or reckless driving in the presence of a solid waste collection employee performing his or her duty. I was appalled to recently learn that solid waste collection employees have the fifth highest fatality rate of any occupation. According to United States Department of Labor the injury rate for solid waste collection employees in 2011 was 6.3 out 100 workers. Occupations such as security guard (1.7), coal mining (3.7), and highway construction (4.4) do not have nearly the amount of nonfatal injuries as solid waste collection workers. Additionally, my legislation would require solid waste collection vehicles to give a visual signal by means of a flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber lights on their truck so it can be seen in by drivers traveling in both directions while they are in service. Recently, Wisconsin and Alabama have joined Michigan (2008) to become the first three states to provide such protection to their solid waste collection workers. It is time for Pennsylvania to adopt similar protections as well. It is my hope that these increased penalties and proper caution lighting will help us protect the workers of such a vital utility. Please join me in supporting this legislation. |
Introduced as HB1273