FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Nicole Reigelman House Democratic Communications Office Phone: 717-787-7895 Fax: 717-783-6839 Email: nreigelm@pahouse.net	State Rep. Mark Cohen D-Philadelphia www.pahouse.com/cohen
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Cohen bill would require fire extinguishers in commercial vehicles

HARRISBURG, June 7 – State Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Phila., has introduced legislation (H.B. 1513) that would require all commercial vehicles to carry a portable fire extinguisher on board.

Cohen said that federal regulation used to require fire extinguishers on trucks and commercial vehicles in the past, however it now exempts small trucks.

“This is a simple measure to save lives,” Cohen said. “A person in a small truck is more than twice as likely to die in a vehicle fire as a person in a car fire. Carrying an extinguisher can save lives in such accidents.”

Cohen added that there have also been many instances when a truck driver uses his extinguisher to put out a fire the driver witnessed. Estimates indicate 50 to 100 lives a year could be saved by implementing this requirement.

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