Michigan State Police Buckle Down on Truckers

In the

truck driving profession every second counts. Time really is money. When you are late to drop a load or up against some other time limit, your biggest concern is how to get from A to B in the quickest time possible. So when you see the red and blue lights closing in on you, the last thing you feel is gratitude. Time is money and now you are going to be even later. With all that frustration rising, have you ever stopped to think that perhaps that officer writing you a ticket may have just saved your life?

Police officers are dedicated to keeping roads safe, the laws of the road are not simply made to obstruct drivers. More than 50% of accidents in the USA could have easily been prevented if a driver had not been speeding, distracted or performing some other form of unsafe driving. To show their dedication to safe driving practices, the Michigan State Police are currently cracking down on drivers throughout the state of Michigan.

Specifically focusing on the safety of truck drivers, the MSP will run a specialized truck enforcement team (STET) until the end of September. The MSP will have officers stationed at locations with high commercial motor vehicle crash rates and in and around rest areas all over the state. The officers will be looking out for truckers with unsafe driving habits such as speed, lane usage, following improperly, disobeying a traffic control device and improper turning. Officers will furthermore be checking truck drivers for credentials and making sure their vehicles are in compliance with state and federal regulations.

Michigan State Police are also urging those driving around commercial vehicles to remember safety procedures such as avoiding a truck’s blind spots, never cutting a truck off and simply remembering to share the road. "It is essential that commercial vehicles and passenger drivers alike drive in a respectful manner, buckle up and adhere to traffic laws," said Capt. Harold Love, commander of the MSP Traffic Safety Division and a member of the Michigan Truck Safety Commission.

To learn more about the MSP and the STET program, visit

http://www.mi.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1586-257652--,00.html.