Contact: Capt. Charles Lorentz, Wisconsin State Patrol, (608) 266-0305, charles.lorentz@wi.dot.gov
Intensified traffic safety enforcement through Saturday
To prevent traffic crashes involving large trucks and other commercial motor vehicles, Wisconsin State Patrol motor carrier inspectors, along with their law enforcement partners across the county will participate in Operation Safe Driver from October 17 through Saturday, October 23.
Sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the mission of Operation Safe Driver is to improve the behavior, habits and decision-making of commercial motor vehicle operators and all other drivers through traffic safety law enforcement and education.
“Bad driving behavior causes the vast majority of traffic crashes,” says State Patrol Capt. Charles Lorentz of the Motor Carrier Enforcement Section. “Lives can be saved and injuries prevented by reducing irresponsible and dangerous behavior like speeding, tailgating and aggressive driving.”
During Operation Safe Driver, State Patrol inspectors and other law enforcement officers will be cracking down on violations such as speeding, following too close, improper lane changes, failure to obey traffic signs and impaired driving by all motorists. Commercial motor vehicle operators will be checked for compliance with license requirements, as well as regulations governing medical card and hours of service standards.
A combination of rigorous traffic law enforcement and effective education has helped improve commercial motor vehicle safety in Wisconsin. In 2009, large-truck crashes declined approximately 21 percent compared with 2008. In addition, large-truck crash fatalities declined nearly 12 percent, and serious injuries went down by more than 26 percent.
