By Special to the Town Crier

In response to an increase in truck-related and truck-at-fault collisions statewide, California Highway Patrol commissioner Spike Helmick recently launched an aggressive enforcement effort targeting unsafe truckers.

“A record number of commercial trucks are traveling on our roads and highways,” Helmick said. “The shortage of professional drivers has also led to a larger number of inexperienced drivers. We are very concerned about these factors and will do everything necessary to ensure the safety of the motoring public.”

The enforcement includes all eight CHP divisions and puts every available officer on the road and in the air, focused on areas where truck-related problems have been identified.

Fixed-wing aircraft will coordinate with ground patrol units to target top collision factors, including speeding, unsafe lane changes and turns, following too closely, stop sign and signal violations, DUI and fatigue.

Motorists will not escape the effort, as officers will also be on the lookout for drivers who maneuver unsafely around trucks.

“Truckers are professional drivers with more training than the average motorist. They must do their part to reverse this trend,” said Helmick. “On the same note, motorists must remember that sharing the road with an 80,000-pound vehicle requires drivers to be more alert. Trucks have larger blind spots and require a greater distance to stop safely. If everyone followed the law and drove with more caution and courtesy, I’m confident we would see a reduction in collisions.”

Statewide truck involved and truck-at-fault collisions are up 4 percent.

- Business Wire