Schumer: New Legislation Already Passed By Senate Committee Allows Excessively Long & Dangerous 84-Food Trucks - The Size Of An 8-Story Building On It's Side - On Lie & Other LI Roadways; Preempts NY Law; Senator LAunches Campaign To Fight Budget Provision That Would Allow Mammoth Trucks On Road & Put Drivers At Risk

Press Release

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer today launched a major push to block a provision in the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill that would permit twin 33-foot trucks on the Long Island Expressway and across other major New York State roadways. Schumer revealed the mammoth size of the trucks being proposed and say they are significantly longer than existing limits and pose serious dangers to other drivers and passengers, as well as to truck drivers and infrastructure. Schumer said their size already preempts New York State law; roughly 80 fatal accidents have involved large trucks across Long Island, a number the Senator says would only rise if these new trucks were allowed on the road.

Schumer also said that, despite the fact that New York has a ban on these types of trucks on most roadways, the language in the Senate THUD bill includes a provision that would preempt New York law. Therefore, Schumer has vowed to fight such a provision from passing in the Senate THUD bill as it comes to the floor for a full vote.

Schumer was joined by Nassau PBA President, Jimmy Carver and Smithtown Supervisor Pat Vecchio.

"It's time to pull the emergency brake on this dangerous provision allowing trucks the size of an 8-story building on our roads, like our Long Island Expressway. The fact of the matter is, these longer, double-hitched tractor-trailers are a tremendous road safety risk to people and infrastructure alike: they take longer to stop, they have wider turning radiuses, and they place a greater strain on our roads and bridges which are already in need of repair," said Senator Schumer. "The marginal increase in shipping efficiency does not outweigh the tremendous safety risks of these larger trucks on our roadways, and I will be doing everything in my power to fight this provision from ever becoming law."

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