Arnold Safety Blog

I read this in the print version of Transport Topics. I couldn’t find the article on-line, but let me summarize. Congressman James Oberstar (D-Minn), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has put FMCSA on notice that if they do not publish regulations mandating more stringent medical qualification guidelines for drivers by the end of August, that he will propose legislation forcing the agency to do so.

This is an idle threat, designed to score political points. Oberstar isn’t going to propose legislation, and even if he does, it will almost certainly not become law, if for no other reason, it’s nearly impossible to pass a law. Remember “I’m Just a Bill” from Schoolhouse Rock? As I discussed earlier, there is no need for more medical regulations. In my opinion, more regulations will have unintended consequences, and make us all worse off than we are right now.