Should more safety systems be required in semi-trucks in wake of I-95 collapse?
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The I-95 collapse left a mangled mess in Philadelphia and is affecting commerce up and down the East Coast.
Just hours after the crash, the CBS News Philadelphia investigators reported on existing safety systems for trucks carrying hazardous materials that often don't get used. Turns out, much of the safety technology available is not required.
A CBS News Investigation found over the last 10 years, the number of big rig accidents involving hazardous materials has increased by 155%, with the cause in almost one out of every five hazmat crashes being driver error.
RELATED: Hazmat road accidents in the U.S. have more than doubled in the past decade
Philadelphia is home to some of the busiest stretches of highway in the country. According to data from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), hazardous materials such as nitric acid, sodium chlorate, batteries, and compressed gas have led to 17 Philadelphia highway fires – about one every three years – since 1974. Just five of those have happened since 1997, and Sunday's incident was the city's first highway fire caused by gasoline since 1984.
RELATED: Highways pose greatest danger for potential Pa. hazmat situation
During his Tuesday visit to Philadelphia, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was asked if there should be more safety systems mandated in semi-trucks.
"We've got standards both in terms of vehicle safety and in terms of tank integrity on vehicles like this," said Buttigieg, "Again, part of why the independent NTSB's work is so important is because often that can inform future policy decisions."
Buttigieg also pointed out the need to focus more on road safety as a whole.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 43,000 people died in both 2021 and 2022 in vehicle crashes.
"I think this is an important reminder just how vital roadway safety is whether commercial vehicles, hazmat, or whether we're talking ordinary passenger traffic," added Buttigieg.
Our CBS News Philadelphia investigative team continues to ask questions about the trucking company involved in the I-95 collapse. The NTSB said the company was in good operating status and they are looking at all aspects of its operations.
Based on information filed with @FMCSA, at the time of the incident, Penn Tank Lines was in good operating status and has valid authority to be engaged in the type of transportation they were operating. This information will be validated as part of the ongoing investigation.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) June 14, 2023
CBS News Philadelphia's Liz Crawford reported on this story.