[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 5]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR382.303]



[Page 167-168]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

 

PART 382_CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AND ALCOHOL USE AND TESTING--Table of 

Contents

 

                        Subpart C_Tests Required

 

Sec. 382.303  Post-accident testing.



    (a) As soon as practicable following an occurrence involving a 

commercial motor vehicle operating on a public road in commerce, each 

employer shall test for alcohol for each of its surviving drivers:

    (1) Who was performing safety-sensitive functions with respect to 

the vehicle, if the accident involved the loss of human life; or

    (2) Who receives a citation within 8 hours of the occurrence under 

State or local law for a moving traffic violation arising from the 

accident, if the accident involved:

    (i) Bodily injury to any person who, as a result of the injury, 

immediately receives medical treatment away from the scene of the 

accident; or

    (ii) One or more motor vehicles incurring disabling damage as a 

result of the accident, requiring the motor vehicle to be transported 

away from the scene by a tow truck or other motor vehicle.

    (b) As soon as practicable following an occurrence involving a 

commercial motor vehicle operating on a public road in commerce, each 

employer shall test for controlled substances for each of its surviving 

drivers:

    (1) Who was performing safety-sensitive functions with respect to 

the vehicle, if the accident involved the loss of human life; or

    (2) Who receives a citation within thirty-two hours of the 

occurrence under State or local law for a moving traffic violation 

arising from the accident, if the accident involved:

    (i) Bodily injury to any person who, as a result of the injury, 

immediately receives medical treatment away from the scene of the 

accident; or

    (ii) One or more motor vehicles incurring disabling damage as a 

result of the accident, requiring the motor vehicle to be transported 

away from the scene by a tow truck or other motor vehicle.

    (c) The following table notes when a post-accident test is required 

to be conducted by paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), (b)(1), and (b)(2) of this 

section:



                                       Table for Sec. 382.303(a) and (b)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       Type of accident involved         Citation issued to the CMV driver    Test must be performed by employer

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i. Human fatality.....................  YES................................  YES.

                                        NO.................................  YES.

ii. Bodily injury with immediate        YES................................  YES.

 medical treatment away from the scene. NO.................................  NO.

iii. Disabling damage to any motor      YES................................  YES.

 vehicle requiring tow away.            NO.................................  NO.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



    (d)(1) Alcohol tests. If a test required by this section is not 

administered within two hours following the accident, the employer shall 

prepare and maintain on file a record stating the reasons the test was 

not promptly administered. If a test required by this section is not 

administered within eight hours following the accident, the employer 

shall cease attempts to administer an alcohol test and shall prepare and 

maintain the same record.



[[Page 168]]



Records shall be submitted to the FMCSA upon request.

    (2) Controlled substance tests. If a test required by this section 

is not administered within 32 hours following the accident, the employer 

shall cease attempts to administer a controlled substances test, and 

prepare and maintain on file a record stating the reasons the test was 

not promptly administered. Records shall be submitted to the FMCSA upon 

request.

    (e) A driver who is subject to post-accident testing shall remain 

readily available for such testing or may be deemed by the employer to 

have refused to submit to testing. Nothing in this section shall be 

construed to require the delay of necessary medical attention for 

injured people following an accident or to prohibit a driver from 

leaving the scene of an accident for the period necessary to obtain 

assistance in responding to the accident, or to obtain necessary 

emergency medical care.

    (f) An employer shall provide drivers with necessary post-accident 

information, procedures and instructions, prior to the driver operating 

a commercial motor vehicle, so that drivers will be able to comply with 

the requirements of this section.

    (g)(1) The results of a breath or blood test for the use of alcohol, 

conducted by Federal, State, or local officials having independent 

authority for the test, shall be considered to meet the requirements of 

this section, provided such tests conform to the applicable Federal, 

State or local alcohol testing requirements, and that the results of the 

tests are obtained by the employer.

    (2) The results of a urine test for the use of controlled 

substances, conducted by Federal, State, or local officials having 

independent authority for the test, shall be considered to meet the 

requirements of this section, provided such tests conform to the 

applicable Federal, State or local controlled substances testing 

requirements, and that the results of the tests are obtained by the 

employer.

    (h) Exception. This section does not apply to:

    (1) An occurrence involving only boarding or alighting from a 

stationary motor vehicle; or

    (2) An occurrence involving only the loading or unloading of cargo; 

or

    (3) An occurrence in the course of the operation of a passenger car 

or a multipurpose passenger vehicle (as defined in Sec. 571.3 of this 

title) by an employer unless the motor vehicle is transporting 

passengers for hire or hazardous materials of a type and quantity that 

require the motor vehicle to be marked or placarded in accordance with 

Sec. 177.823 of this title.