THP Participates in Operation Roadcheck 2010

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will perform round-the-clock roadside checks at all nine inspection/weigh stations along interstate highways. The Level I inspection, the most thorough and comprehensive examination, will be conducted on commercial vehicles and buses throughout Operation Roadcheck, with an added emphasis on safety belt enforcement. According to recent studies, only 74 percent of truck drivers heed the federal law that requires them to wear a safety belt to avoid injury or death in a crash. In addition to seat belt enforcement, Troopers will be checking for operating authority, insurance and Commercial Driver License status checks of commercial vehicle drivers.

 

“We are geared up to participate yet again in the National Roadcheck enforcement period,” said Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “A special emphasis on commercial vehicle and driver safety inspections is pivotal in maintaining the safety and security of our highways. The more we educate commercial vehicle drivers on the importance of maintaining safe vehicles and buckling up, the safer our highways will become.”

 

During Operation Roadcheck 2009, Tennessee State Troopers conducted checkpoints at the State’s nine inspection/weigh stations and stopped trucks at random points along the roads.  In all, Tennessee Troopers inspected 1,023 commercial vehicles during last year’s 72-hour period, resulting in 102 commercial vehicles and 37 commercial drivers being placed out-of-service. Nationally, hours-of-service violations continue to be the most common reasons for drivers being placed out-of-service, while vehicles placed out-of-service have decreased from 20.8 in 2008 to 19.6 percent last year. The most frequent out-of-service violation for vehicles was unsafe brakes with 26.9 percent in 2009.  During Roadcheck 2009, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance says 72,782 inspections were conducted nationwide resulting in 17 lives saved and 307 injuries avoided.

 

“All drivers need to be conscious of and abide by the rules of the road, especially drivers of large commercial vehicles and buses. The potential for disaster rises exponentially with the size, weight and increased numbers of passengers of these vehicles,” says THP Colonel Mike Walker. “In addition to Operation Roadcheck, the Tennessee Highway Patrol will conduct a statewide commercial vehicle campaign called ‘Operation Strategic Transportation Observation & Prevention (S.T.O.P.) at the end of June.  We will not hesitate to place commercial vehicles and/or drivers out of service to keep our highways safe.”

 

THP, in conjunction with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, will also participate in the National Passenger Carrier Strike Force Enforcement from July 26 through July 30 in the Pigeon Forge area and again from August 23 through September 3 at various locations across the state. 

 

CVA sponsors Roadcheck each year with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (Mexico).

 

 

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