Operation Safe Driver strives to prevent large-truck crashes

October 18, 2007

Intensified commercial motor vehicle enforcement from Oct. 21-28

To prevent large-truck crashes through rigorous law enforcement and effective traffic safety education, the Wisconsin State Patrol will participate in Operation Safe Driver from Oct. 21 to 28. Operation Safe Driver is sponsored nationally by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.

The Wisconsin State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies throughout the country will intensify their efforts during Operation Safe Driver to increase compliance with all commercial motor vehicle driving and equipment regulations, boost the number of commercial drivers who buckle up, and raise public awareness about safe driving practices while traveling among large trucks and buses.

"The Wisconsin State Patrol has highly trained commercial motor vehicle inspectors patrolling highways and stationed at our safety and weight enforcement facilities, also known as weigh stations," says Capt. Charles Teasdale of the Motor Carrier Enforcement and Inspection Section. "Their mission is to remove unsafe and fatigued commercial drivers from the road and to ensure that all safety equipment on large trucks and other commercial vehicles is operating properly. During Operation Safe Driver, the State Patrol will fortify its commercial motor vehicle inspection and enforcement efforts to save lives and reduce injuries by preventing crashes."

A combination of rigorous law enforcement and effective traffic safety education has helped reduce large-truck crashes in Wisconsin. Compared with 2005, large-truck crashes declined nearly 8 percent in 2006. In addition, large-truck crash fatalities and serious injuries declined 10 percent in 2006 compared with 2005. See attached chart.

NOTE TO MEDIA. You may contact State Patrol regional posts to arrange interviews, view truck inspections, or schedule ride-alongs with inspectors during Operation Safe Driver. A list of State Patrol regional contacts is available on the WisDOT Web site.

For more information, contact:
Capt. Charles Teasdale
(608) 266-0305, charles.teasdale@dot.state.wi.us

Lt. Patricia Hansen
(608) 266-0094, patricia.hansen@dot.state.wi.us