If you’ll be RVing in Texas this week, be on the lookout—the highway patrol is watching closely. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Texas Highway Patrol (THP) is increasing enforcement efforts—along with fellow law enforcement partners in bordering states.
“SafeDRIVE” initiative affects RVing in Texas
It’s all part of the Distracted Reckless Impaired Visibility Enforcement, or SafeDRIVE, initiative. This concentrated highway enforcement will run August 6-8, 2024, on Interstates 10, 20, 35, 40 and 45.
SafeDRIVE aims to eliminate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) traffic collisions through periods of high visibility enforcement along major interstate corridors where a large number of the nation’s fatal CMV collisions occur.
Don’t think that just because you’re not driving an 18-wheeler means you can slide. This enhanced enforcement campaign will focus on both passenger vehicles and CMVs, looking for aggressive drivers, speeders, tailgating, failure to wear safety belts, distracted drivers, and motorists driving under the influence.
DPS reminds all drivers to follow these safety tips
- Stay out of blind spots. Large trucks and buses have huge blind spots on all four sides.
- Pass safely. Make sure you can see the CMV driver in their side mirror. Signal clearly and safely pass the truck or bus. Don’t linger in the blind spot. Make sure the truck or bus is visible in your rearview mirror before you pull in front.
- Don’t cut off large vehicles. It takes a large truck traveling at highway speeds the length of two football fields to stop.
- Don’t tailgate. Tailgating a truck or bus puts you in a blind spot.
- Buckle up. Wearing a seatbelt can be the difference between life and death, so make sure to buckle up.
- Put the phone down. Texting while driving in Texas is illegal (and should be everywhere because it is so potentially dangerous to occupants of the vehicles and others nearby).
Sounds to me like Russ and Tiña got this one a bit backward. The way I read this is drivers are being educated (maybe) about mitigating the hazards of sharing the road with big vehicles. Sure the rules also apply to RVs and CMVs, but it is more about smaller vehicles doing dumb things like lingering in blind spots and cutting off larger vehicles. That is a big reason why I don’t like towing my dinky 21′ TT with my SUV on Interstates. I can’t tell you how many passenger cars & pickups in Texas suddenly come out of my blind spot, roar around me then cut me off because they need back in my lane to take the upcoming exit.
Thank you, Russ amd Tina! 🙂 Won’t be in Texas. 🙁 I do wish that the various state (and commonwealth) highway patrols would routinely do this and not just once in a while. Thanks again, have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂