As an advocate resource dedicated to promoting roads which better communicate to drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and all users alike, Talking Roads is eager to showcase positive efforts throughout the world to build safer roads.

This issue showcases the issue of truck conspicuity markings. One of the more vocal grassroots organizations speaking to this issue is P.A.T.T. (Parents Against Tired Truckers). P.A.T.T.Õs web site (www.patt.org) explains that the organization was formed "when a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel of his 80,000 pound rig, killing four innocent teenagers. There were no criminal charges (not even a traffic ticket) brought against this truck driver or the trucking company for their deaths. Thus, P.A.T.T. was formed in May of 1994. In our short existence we have grown from a Maine grassroots group to a Nationally recognized organization. We have been successful in bringing the fatigue issue to the forefront at National events throughout the United States.

Although misunderstood by some, P.A.T.T. is not anti-trucker. In fact, many truck drivers are applauding us for addressing issues that they themselves cannot for fear of losing their jobs."

We spoke with Russ Swift, a 51 year-old native of Maine who works in a major shipyard building Navy ships and who has worked with P.A.T.T. for the past five years.

Q: How did you become involved with P.A.T.T.?
A: On Oct 10, 1993, four teenagers were killed on the Maine Turnpike when a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and drove over their car. Four days later my 23 year old son Jasen, a Marine, was killed in a heavy truck crash in Nevada. It took me about a year to get involved with P.A.T.T. Now we can't stop. 5000 deaths a year are too many. I have not gone past the angry stage yet. Working with and for P.A.T.T. helps me cope with the grief and provides me with some hope that my sonÕs death had some meaning.

Q: What are your concerns regarding truck conspicuity markings?
A: My son and his friend, another Marine, were killed at 5AM, on an open highway, when they drove under a flatbed trailer stretched across both lanes of the highway. It was dark. They had their lights on.

Why didn't they see the truck? Witnesses had different recollections as to whether the truckÕs lights were on or off. The truck was trying to make a U-turn and the tractor was facing my sonÕs vehicle. The trailer didn't have any conspicuity tape, only some red side lights. I was motivated to learn more about conspicuity because I wanted to know how it happened and how my son was killed.

I believe I now understand how it happened. I will never know why it happened. If the truckÕs headlights were on, the boys ran into a "wall of light." It was only after they passed the headlights that they had any chance of seeing the trailer. This meant they had no chance of stopping in time. If the trucks lights were not on, the boys saw only what appeared to be red reflectors along the side of the road. It was only when they were too close to stop that they would have realized that there was something across the road.

Q: What do you want others to know from this experience?
A: If you drive at night you need to know what you can expect to see and what you cannot see. Only when you have some idea of what might be out there will you be able to make a decision based on knowledge and caution. What you don't know can kill you. It happened to my son and it could happen just as easily to you.

Q: Do the new laws requiring conspicuity tape on trucks alleviate your concerns?
A: In December 1993, the laws changed to require conspicuity taping of all new trailers. Recently the law changed again to require conspicuity taping of all trailers built before 1993, but the industry has up to 10 years to comply in some cases. 10 years is too long. 12 months is sufficient time to get all trailers taped. What is one life worth?

Q: What do you recommend to those concerned about how to improve the safety of roads accommodating both car and truck drivers?
A: If you are concerned about truck driver fatigue, contact P.A.T.T. If you are concerned about truck conspicuity, contact the trucking company, their insurance carrier, your state and federal representatives and senators, or write letters to the editor. But what ever you do, do something. A post card, a call, or an e-mail to your senator will make a difference.