FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 8, 1999 (SB-99-33)

NTSB PUBLIC HEARING TO EXAMINE THE EFFECT OF NAFTA ON AMERICAN HIGHWAY SAFETY

Washington D.C. -- The National Transportation Safety Board will conduct a public hearing on highway safety issues raised by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), NTSB Chairman Jim Hall announced today. The hearing will focus on ensuring that highway safety in the United States remains a priority as open trade is encouraged between the US, Mexico and Canada under NAFTA. The NAFTA hearing is scheduled for October 20-22 in Los Angeles.

"NAFTA offers the United States a great trade opportunity, and our oversight is needed to ensure that as trade barriers fall, standards for public safety remain high," said Hall. "Our mission is to make sure our nation's highways stay safe in the face of an emerging global marketplace."

Officials from industry, public advocacy groups, organized labor and the U.S. and Canadian governments are expected to testify. Topics include harmonization of safety standards, hours of service, commercial driver’s license issues and the medical certification process as well as oversight and exchange of data across the borders. The NAFTA discussion marks the third public hearing in the NTSB’s year-long truck and bus safety initiative. In April, the Safety Board held a hearing in Washington to examine the conditions and causes of truck and bus-related crashes as well as industry, federal and state oversight. Nashville, Tennessee was the site of an August hearing which highlighted new technologies designed to make heavy commercial vehicles safer.

The Safety Board will convene the October hearing at 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 20, 1999 at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton, 5711 West Century Blvd. The hearing is open to the public and no registration is required. More information about the hearing is available on the News & Events page of the NTSB website at www.ntsb.gov.

Media contact: Lauren Peduzzi (202) 314-6100