The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to study how drivers react to crash avoidance technology.
In a notice in the Federal Register NHTSA said, “The objective of this driving research is to examine driver behavior in using crash avoidance warning systems and assess effects of human-machine interface characteristics on drivers’ behavior and driver response in crash-imminent scenarios. The research will involve driver behavior observation while driving on a test track, public roads or in a simulated environment.”
The agency’s plans call for it to use some 200 licensed drivers – including some commercial driver’s license holders – from the Columbus, Ohio area in the research. Drivers in the study must be 25 to 65 years old. In addition, drivers of passenger vehicles must have a valid U.S. driver’s license and drive at least 11,000 miles annually in light passenger vehicles. Likewise, heavy-duty truck drivers must have a valid CDL and drive at least 11,000 miles each year in a commercial truck.
Crash avoidance systems provide drivers a variety of alerts and warnings to inform drivers of potential danger.
Truck stop group wants biodiesel tax cut extended
NATSO, representing truck stops and travel centers, and SIGMA: America’s Leading Fuel Marketers, recently urged Congress to extend a series of expiring tax credits during the Lame Duck session, including the $1 per gallon biodiesel blenders’ tax credit.
“As Members return to finish their work, we look forward to engaging on policy priorities that can prevent unnecessary disruptions in the fuel market while keeping fuel prices low for consumers and further reducing carbon emissions from transportation fuel,” said NATSO and SIGMA Executive Vice President of Government Affairs, David Fialkov. “Fuel retailers are ready and willing to work with Congress as it considers critical policy priorities during the Lame Duck Session.”
The Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden after passing Congress on a purely partisan basis, created a new Clean Fuel Production tax credit known as “45Z.” Despite repeated requests, the industry has not received guidance from the Biden Administration regarding what the value of that credit will be for different fuels. This uncertainty, combined with the scheduled expiration of the biodiesel blenders’ credit at the end of 2024 is hurting biodiesel producers, fuel retailers, trucking companies, and the entire soy complex.
Biodiesel and renewable diesel have historically been the most widely used biofuels in commercial trucking and remain the most viable option for reducing carbon emissions from the nation’s trucking, according to a statement from the two organizations.The biodiesel tax credit directly lowers the cost of diesel fuel for truck drivers, which in turn reduces shipping costs and helps lower the prices consumers pay for goods transported by truck.
Extending this tax credit would ensure that motor carriers can continue to cut carbon emissions within existing fleets while also keeping fuel prices and consumer costs down. The biodiesel blenders’ tax credit has been instrumental in developing a strong renewable diesel industry in the United States, driving significant growth in production.
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