Folks who like to “brake check” truckers, or simply don’t give them safe clearance, could be in trouble in Wisconsin. The State Patrol is gearing up its “Trooper in a Truck” program.
Troopers with truckers
Wisconsin State Patrol troopers will have a higher vantage point to spot dangerous driving behaviors in July. This is thanks to a partnership with the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association.
Troopers will ride along with semi-truck and bus drivers to enforce traffic laws from an elevated point of view. It’s part of the annual Trooper in a Truck enforcement and education initiative.
The program, designed to reduce the number of crashes and injuries involving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) will take place on highways across the state from July 8 through July 12.
“Drivers need to pay attention on the road, especially around large trucks and buses,” Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan said. “Commercial motor vehicles have large blind spots, limited maneuverability, and require longer distances to stop. All motorists have to work together to prevent crashes.”
7,000 crashes, 70 deaths in five years
In the past five years, Wisconsin has averaged about 7,000 crashes involving large trucks every year. In 2023, 70 people died in those incidents. Distracted driving contributes to many crashes and is a growing safety concern in Wisconsin.
Trooper in a Truck focuses on stopping distracted driving. When an officer identifies a violation from the truck or bus, they will radio to patrol cars in the area for appropriate enforcement action.
They will also be on the lookout for other dangerous driving behaviors like speeding, reckless driving, and following too close.
“This is the third year we are teaming up with the Wisconsin State Patrol to prevent dangerous driving through the Trooper in a Truck program,” Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association Safety Programs Coordinator Kim Conradt said. “We’re grateful for the wonderful partnerships that make this initiative successful.”
Trooper in a Truck is part of Operation Safe Driver Week, a nationwide awareness and enforcement initiative aimed at improving driving behaviors of passenger vehicle and CMV drivers.
Not-so-secret Trooper in a Truck schedule
Drivers can expect to see Trooper in a Truck enforcement in the following areas:
- July 8, 2024: Hudson
- July 9, 2024: Waukesha
- July 10, 2024: Madison
- July 11, 2024: Green Bay
- July 12, 2024: Wausau
State Patrol troopers and inspectors work regularly to enforce traffic laws to reduce crashes involving CMVs, including enforcement details in areas with safety challenges. During this detail, officers will be on high alert for any dangerous driving occurring in the vicinity of the CMV.
SOURCE: State of Wisconsin press release.
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Would love to see some of those videos!
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 This seems a great idea. I do wonder why they released a schedule of days and locations for the operation? I think this is a great idea for all of the contiguous-48 states, if not also Alaska and Hawaii. Similarly, federal and state/commonwealth house and senate representatives should be required to collectively ride over every mile of every state and federal highway in their jurisdiction in a driveable RV. I don’t think passenger vehicles convey how poorly maintained roads are, but an RV more nearly does. Thanks again, have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
I agree with Neal that this is a great idea, and also wish that state reps drive all of the available roadways. I would also like to see that the state troopers watch for some of the overzealous and sometimes distracted truck drivers that are on the roads too.
Some so called ” professional drivers” are not very professional. Followed one yesterday that was driving in the passing lane on I 35, backing up traffic on a busy travel day.
What a great idea.
I drove non emergency medical transport and rarely did I see a county sheriff or state trooper out on the major highways in Wisconsin. Once while leaving Madison I saw a state trooper but that was it.
Drive 94 between Eau Claire and Menomonee. They are there every day
As a former truck driver and an active RV’er (with a GCWR of 21,000 pounds plus) I love the idea of “Trooper in a Truck”. The number of times I have had people jump into my lane leaving only a few feet between us and them, and apply the brakes because traffic is slowing is amazing. They don’t understand that the open space I am leaving is to provide adequate braking distance for my rig in case of a sudden slow down in my lane. I’d love to have a direct radio connection to a nearby officer. With my experience I could quickly provide a full vehicle description,license plate data, location,direction of travel and my dash cam footage for the arresting officer.