Bendix takes pro-safety technology message to Capital Hill

ELYRIA, Ohio — leaders from Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems met with U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week to discuss the impact proposed safety technology legislation could have on America’s highways.

The panel was charged with advocating for the adoption of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Advanced Safety Technology Act of 2007 — also known as H.R. 3820.

Introduced in October 2007, H.R. 3820 would provide a tax credit equal to 50 percent of the cost of a qualifying commercial vehicle safety system. The act would provide incentives for such technology as vehicle stability systems, collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, and brake stroke monitoring systems.

Scott Burkhart, Bendix vice president of the controls and modules group, and Fred Andersky, Bendix marketing manager for electronics, were part of the panel, which was assembled by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).

“By offering meaningful tax incentives to fleets and heavy vehicle operators that implement active safety-enhancing technologies, H.R. 3820 could help ensure not only the safe operation of commercial vehicles, but also the safety of our nation’s roadways,” Burkhart said.

NHTSA statistics show that between 2001 and 2005, more than 25,000 fatalities resulted from crashes involving heavy-duty vehicles. In addition to injury and loss of life, these accidents can cause productivity-robbing traffic delays and lost time due to out-of-service vehicles.

Bendix believes H.R. 3820 has the potential to significantly accelerate the implementation of safety technologies that can help prevent these incidents.