Izer of Lisbon to receive national honors

Daphne Izer, founder of Parents Against Tired Truckers, will be recognized by the White House as a 2014 Transportation Champion of Change, according to a Truck Safety Coalition news release Monday.

Izer of Lisbon lost her teenage son, Jeff, in 1993 when a sleeping truck driver rolled his tractor-trailer onto a small car carrying Jeff and four of his friends. Jeff and three of his friends were killed in the crash. A fifth teen was seriously injured.

As PATT marks its 20th anniversary this month, Izer will be recognized for her efforts to improve highway safety at an event being held at the White House on May 13.

The 2014 White House Champions of Change will honor 11 people who have demonstrated exemplary leadership to ensure that transportation facilities, services and jobs help individuals and their communities connect to 21st century opportunities.

“Daphne’s work to create awareness of truck driver fatigue and seek legislative and regulatory changes to reduce fatigue-related truck crashes has undoubtedly saved lives and prevented debilitating injuries,” John Lannen, executive director of the Truck Safety Coalition, said.

“Her courage after losing Jeff and his friends, and her strength and passionate advocacy for change over the last 20 years is what makes Daphne a great safety leader.”

PATT has focused its efforts on reducing truck driver fatigue and seeking a requirement for the use of electronic logging devices to accurately record truck driver hours behind the wheel to reduce the falsification of driving logs.

“Unfortunately,” Izer said, “for every safety rule or legislation that is passed, there are numerous proposals for exemptions to existing safety regulations and attempts to reduce their effectiveness.

“Right now, members of Congress are considering proposals to roll back safety benefits of the new hours-of-service rule by removing the restart provision.”

In 2002, PATT combined efforts with Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways and formed the Truck Safety Coalition to reach a wider audience and maintain a presence in Washington, D.C.

dmcintire@sunjournal.com