By a vote of 40-0, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability approved the Mail Traffic Deaths Reporting Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) to require the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to collect, track, and publicly report information related to deaths and injuries resulting from traffic crashes involving vehicles transporting mail. The legislation is co-led by Congressman James Comer (R-KY), the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
Over the last three years, at least 79 people have been killed in crashes involving trucks contracted by the Postal Service. The number of lives lost could be even higher as, last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that USPS does not track and report serious crashes involving its trucking contractors.
“For too long, the Postal Service has taken an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach to truck safety,” said Connolly. “This legislation is about saving lives and protecting families on our nation’s roads. I am thrilled we’ve taken a big step toward seeing it passed and signed into law, and I want to thank Chairman Comer for his continued partnership on that front.”
In May 2023, Connolly urged the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) to investigate the safety of freight contract trucking practices as the Postal Service. Last Friday, the OIG released its report in response to Connolly’s request. The report found that the Postal Service still does not have a single written policy requiring the tracking of trucking contractor accidents and fatalities. The OIG’s number one recommendation was that the Postal Service remedy this serious safety oversight immediately. The Mail Traffic Deaths Reporting Act would codify that recommendation by requiring the tracking and reporting of serious crashes and fatalities related to the transport of U.S. postal mail.