A survey of truck drivers at roadside weigh stations has shown that a federal rule addressing trucker drivers' work hours hasn't been effective in keeping truckers from driving too many hours with too little rest. Researchers at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that long distance truck drivers in Oregon and Pennsylvania reported driving more hours per day and week in 2004 than they did in 2003. A "restart" provision that allows drivers to start over on a work week after only 34 hours of duty has enabled 80% of the surveyed drivers to add up to 25% more driving time into a calendar week. While the rule has increased the number of required off-duty hours from 8 to 10 per day, drivers reported that dozing at the wheel has increased, and 33% of the drivers own up to inaccurate reporting of their hours. Efforts to ensure truck drivers' health and safety have resulted in disagreements between U.S. regulators, courts, and legislators. Requirements for onboard recorders remain controversial in the U.S., while the European Union plans to mandate electronic recorders in the near future and Canada's primary motor carrier trade association has endorsed requiring recorders.
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