Practice safe driving when near commercial vehicles

As the transportation industry continues to ramp up operations to keep up with the ongoing demands of the coronavirus pandemic, Wisconsin is seeing more commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) on the roads.

With that surge in traffic, states across the country, have seen an increase in crashes. Since 2017, Wisconsin has averaged 7,140 crashes involving large trucks, every year. Preliminary data shows 89 people died in those incidents in 2021.

The Wisconsin State Patrol’s February Law of the Month, reminds CMV operators and other drivers, that safety is a shared responsibility on highways.

“Large trucks, like semis, need extra room on the roads, especially in the winter, when conditions can change quickly,” said Wisconsin State Patrol superintendent Anthony Burrell. “All drivers should keep a safe distance from other vehicles, be aware of blind spots and pass carefully.”

State patrol troopers and inspectors work regularly to enforce traffic laws, to reduce crashes involving CMVs, including enforcement details in areas with safety challenges. In 2021, nearly 15,000 CMV operators were stopped for traffic violations and roughly 9,700 other drivers were pulled over for violations impacting safe CMV operation.

Wisconsin has seen a significant increase in the number of new motor carriers in the past few months. State patrol staff contact each new carrier operating in interstate commerce, to help them develop safety practices. The state patrol also works with technical colleges to offer free training seminars, to help CMV operators and carriers recognize their critical role in highway safety.

Whether driving a large vehicle or a small one, the same following rules of the road apply:

• Use caution when passing. Don’t linger in blind spots. State law (346.07) prohibits drivers from returning to a traffic lane until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle.

• Don’t tailgate. Following too closely decreases a driver’s reaction time. State law (346.14) prohibits drivers from following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable.

• Use and watch for turn signals. CMVs require extra room to turn. Never try to squeeze in between the curb and a turning CMV.