WHEREAS, Single unit trucks are often operated during the early morning hours, en route to pick up or deliver the first load of the day, under conditions of reduced visibility, and at the same time as morning commuter traffic; and

WHEREAS, They are often operated on secondary highways and because of load and/or terrain are traveling at reduced speed; and

WHEREAS, The design of single unit trucks is such that rear lighting is often mounted low and squeezed into the space separating the rear tires of the vehicle. Under conditions of reduced visibility this lighting configuration disguises the true size of the vehicle; and

WHEREAS, They are often operated under extreme conditions where dirt, debris or damage deteriorates the effectiveness of the rear lighting; and

WHEREAS, In 1994, nationwide, in 73 percent of all fatal commercial vehicle crashes, the first harmful event was collision with another vehicle in transport; and

WHEREAS, In 1994, commercial vehicle crashes involving single unit trucks comprised 19.9 percent of the fatal commercial vehicles crashes and 21.1 percent of the non-fatal commercial vehicle crashes; and

WHEREAS, A study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) between 1980 and 1985 concluded that truck-trailer combinations equipped with retroreflective materials to increase their conspicuity at night and under other conditions of reduced visibility were involved in 15 percent fewer crashes than combinations lacking the material; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the International Association of Chiefs of Police, duly assembled at its 104th Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, encourages the NHTSA to continue research to identify the merits of amending the conspicuity standards of 49 CFR 571.108 to include similar standards for single unit trucks.