Citing public safety for both tourists and truckers alike, Virginia plan to reopen 19 safety rest areas and welcome centers, reversing a 2009 decision to cut the number by nearly half, from 42 to 23. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) applauded the move, which will help prevent driver fatigue and provide safe, secure parking spaces for truck drivers to comply with federal hours-of-service regulations. The lengthened maximum parking time and additional 225 spaces created with the reduced number rest areas that remained open will continue to be honored and maintained when all 42 rest areas reopen by April 15.

Virginia to Enhance Safety by Reopening Rest Areas

The American Trucking Associations and the Virginia Trucking Association on Thursday, Jan. 21, commended Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s leading of the Commonwealth Transportation Board to begin reopening 19 safety rest areas and welcome centers. The board this week voted to reverse its 2009 decision to reduce the number of state safety rest areas and welcome centers from 42 to 23. All areas will reopen by April 15.

“Closing these rest areas last year potentially decreased highway safety for both the motoring public and truck drivers alike,” says Bill Graves, ATA president and chief executive officer. “As a former governor, I understand the difficult budget challenges that Virginia faces, but I was deeply concerned that safety rest areas were the wrong place to cut funds.” Graves was elected to two terms as governor of Kansas.

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