By News Reporter Gabby Cedano
The Kentucky State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) division will join law enforcement agencies across the country in Operation SafeDRIVE, a national traffic safety campaign focused on reducing dangerous driving behaviors around large trucks and buses.
The initiative, led by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), will run from October 7 through October 9.
During the three-day operation, CVE officers and inspectors will increase patrols along major highways, conduct roadside inspections at weigh stations and promote safe-driving education aimed at both commercial drivers and the public. The goal is to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles.
According to a news release, CVE Public Affairs Officer Sergeant Jason Morris says that commercial trucks are essential to everyone’s way of life, moving goods that communities depend on every day, but because of their size and weight, crashes involving large trucks can have serious consequences. That’s why he believes both commercial drivers and passenger vehicle operators must do their part to keep the roads safe.
Operation SafeDRIVE, short for Distracted, Reckless, Impaired and Visibility Enforcement, targets behaviors that often lead to serious collisions near commercial vehicles, including aggressive driving, distracted driving and driving under the influence.
To support the campaign, Kentucky State Police are urging drivers to be mindful when sharing the road with large commercial vehicles. They stress the importance of staying out of truck blind spots, signaling well in advance, allowing extra space for trucks to stop or merge and avoiding aggressive maneuvers like weaving through traffic or cutting in too closely. They say these simple precautions can significantly reduce the risk of serious collisions.
This enforcement initiative supports the FMCSA’s “Our Roads, Our Safety” campaign, which raises awareness about how all road users can help prevent crashes involving large commercial vehicles.
For more information about commercial vehicle safety and Operation SafeDRIVE, visit fmcsa.dot.gov or contact your local Kentucky state police CVE office.