Connecticut Safety Measures Lead To Dramatic Reduction In Truck Driver Fatalities

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- Measures taken to improve the truck-driving industry in Connecticut are paying off.

As WCBS 880's Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported, the number of truck driver fatalities last year was 14, down from 30 in 2006.

Mike Riley, president of the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut, attributes the improvement to an intense focus on the drivers themselves -- measures such as alcohol and drug testing and required medical exams.

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"We screen for sleep apnea and other sleep disorders to make sure that drivers are treated for those conditions," he said.

Riley also said that drivers now adhere to a strict schedule of no more than 11 hours on the road in a 24-hour period.

Another benefit, he said, is that trucks are outfitted with computerized information warning of road conditions and problems ahead.