FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky State Police officers will fan out across the state’s highways this week as part of a nationwide crackdown on unsafe driving behaviors around commercial trucks and buses.
The enforcement effort, dubbed Operation SafeDRIVE, runs Tuesday through Thursday and targets distracted, reckless and impaired driving, as well as visibility issues involving large vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is coordinating the initiative across multiple states.
Kentucky State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers will increase their presence on major highways, conduct commercial driver inspections at weigh stations and check for federal safety compliance throughout the operation.
“Commercial trucks are essential to our way of life, moving goods that communities depend on every day,” said Sgt. Jason Morris, public affairs officer for Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. “But because of their size and weight, crashes involving large trucks can have serious consequences.”
Morris emphasized that both commercial and passenger vehicle drivers share responsibility for highway safety.
The three-day safety push comes as authorities work to reduce the number of crashes, injuries and deaths involving large trucks. Due to their size and weight, collisions with commercial vehicles often result in severe consequences.
State police are urging motorists to follow basic safety practices when driving near large trucks:
- Stay visible in truck drivers’ mirrors
- Signal lane changes and turns well in advance
- Avoid abrupt stops, as trucks require much longer stopping distances
- Exercise patience and avoid weaving through traffic or cutting in front of trucks
- Allow commercial vehicles adequate space when merging
The operation supports the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s “Our Roads, Our Safety” campaign, a national education effort promoting safe driving practices around commercial vehicles.
Additional information about Kentucky State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement is available on the agency’s website.
