The issue of truck driver fatigue gained media attention recently after the tragic truck crash that killed one man and critically injured several others, including actor Tracy Morgan. Twenty years ago, we founded Parents Against Tired Truckers after a driver fell asleep at the wheel of his rig, killing four teenagers, including our son, Jeff, and permanently injuring one other.

Each year, on average, 4,000 people are killed and 100,000 more are injured in truck crashes. The current hours-of-service rule was set in place for safer highways.

Recently, the hours-of-service rule, particularly its 34-hour restart provision, has been under attack. Sen. Susan Collins has proposed legislation that suspends the current safety limits on the 34-hour rest period, which increases driver work hours from the current average of 70 hours a week to more than 80 hours a week — the equivalent to adding an additional work day.

One argument used against the current restart provision is that it places too many drivers on the road during the morning rush hour. However, the 34-hour restart does not prohibit nighttime drivers from continuing to drive at night.

The current rule does not place restrictions when a truck driver must drive or rest unless the driver exceeds the maximum weekly on-duty driving limits of 60 or 70 hours. In fact, the current rule poses no restriction on when the driver must take a break or when that driver must go back on the road after the break. That decision is completely up to the driver.

Daphne Izer, Lisbon