Governor Announces Crackdown on Unsafe Trucking Practices

Driver fatigue is a contributing factor in 30-40% of all trucking accidents and studies have shown that fatigued driving is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.

2010-09-02

September 02, 2010 (Press-News.org) In early August, Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell announced that her office was leading an "intense crackdown" on unsafe driving practices by truck drivers. The crackdown was announced in the wake of a series of serious trucking accidents that resulted in two fatalities and numerous road closures.

The enhanced patrols will be a joint effort between the state patrol and the Department of Motor Vehicles. Five hundred state patrol officers, 24 members of the traffic squad and the DMV squad will be looking out for dangerous driving activities by truck drivers.

In a recent press release, Gov. Rell announced that during the first two weeks of the crackdown, more than 1,200 citations were issued to truck drivers for a variety of infractions. The Governor's press release noted that the most prominent citations issued over the initial two week span of the program included:
- 211 Overweight Truck Violations
- 88 Speeding/Reckless Driving Violations
- 77 Violations for Defective Lights
- 70 Logbook Violations
- 65 Oversize Vehicle Violations
- 61 Registration Violations
- 53 Driver's License Violations
- 47 Violations for Defective Brakes and Tires

Governor Rell also asked the state highway patrol to review 14 accidents between April 10 and July 10 involving semi-trucks. In nine of those accidents, the truck driver was cited for an unsafe driving practice, such as speeding or an improper lane change. The Department of Motor Vehicles notes that two of the investigations remain open.

Driver Fatigue a Common Cause

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, driver fatigue is a contributing factor in 30 to 40 percent of all trucking accidents. Whether from lack of sleep or driving too many consecutive hours, studies have indicated that fatigued driving is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.

The crackdown was announced by the Governor the morning after a truck accident caused the shutdown of I-84. In her announcement, Gov. Rell indicated that the driver, who suffered minor injuries in the crash, appeared to have fallen asleep.

Though the Governor stated that most truckers are safe and follow proper rules of

the road, she promised to use this initiative to hold those who do not drive safely accountable for their actions.

Article provided by Jacobs & Jacobs
Visit us at www.jacobs-jacobs.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Study Examining the Effect of Patients Reading Their Doctor's Notes

2010-09-02

The notes a doctor takes during a visit with a patient can be crucial to that person's care and overall level of treatment. These notes can help a doctor review a patient's medical condition, form a diagnosis and share information with others who may participate in that person's care. For some time, the question has been whether patients should, or would even want to, review what their physicians write in those notes. The movement for patients and consumers to review their own medical records began in the 1970s. During that time, states began enacting laws that promoted ...

Divorce Arbitration: What is It and Why Choose It?

2010-09-02

It is an unfortunate fact that many marriages end. For any number of reasons, spouses all across the nation file for divorce. Even though the marriage ends, many responsibilities from the marriage do not, including the mortgage payments, bills, leases, and most importantly, children. The traditional courtroom setting casts spouses and co-parents as opponents in what can result in time-consuming and expensive litigation. For some, an alternative forum provides a friendlier, faster and more cost efficient outcome. Divorce Arbitration When a husband and wife enter into ...

Minnesota's New Campaign to Cut Down on Distracted Driving

2010-09-02

Nationwide, distracted driving results in nearly 6,000 deaths and over 500,000 injuries every year according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. In Minnesota, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) reports that driver distraction is a leading factor in 25 percent of all accidents, resulting in 70 deaths and 350 injuries every year. A Focus on Education and Enforcement In an effort to better address the issue of distracted driving, DPS recently launched a new enforcement and educational campaign. Minnesota has recently adopted a Distracted Driver Awareness ...

New Law Protects New York Bicyclists from Passing Motor Vehicles

2010-09-02

Beginning on November 1, bicyclists throughout New York can breathe a little easier when cycling down the state's roadways. This past August, Gov. David Paterson signed into law a bill requiring motorists to maintain a "safe distance" when passing bike riders. The bill added section 1122-A to New York's Traffic Law, which reads: The operator of a vehicle overtaking from behind a bicycle proceeding on the same side of a roadway shall pass to the left of such bicycle at a safe distance until safely clear thereof. Drivers who violate the law will be cited at minimum ...

Taking a Summer Road Trip? Be Aware of Other States' Laws

2010-09-02

As summer vacation comes to a close, families are packing up their cars one last time to bring the kids on the road before school starts. While taking a road trip to another state offers the promise of adventure, the wise traveler will understand ahead of time the potential risks and what to do in case of an accident. Driving Laws Vary by State Each state passes its own driving laws, rather than having them determined by the federal government. In this age of easy travel from state to state, however, that can be confusing for some drivers. From whether it's OK to ...

Privatizing Building Inspections: Creating Premises Liability Issues?

2010-09-02

One major impact of the Great Recession has been a reduction in revenue to many municipalities and other local government entities. Town boards, city councils and county commissioners around the country face tough choices when it comes to delivering services to residents and businesses within their jurisdictions. A recent example in New Jersey could end up causing more problems than it solves. New Jersey's Gloucester Township recently laid off all six of its building inspectors and is accepting bids from private contractors to handle review and inspections for all building, ...

Debenhams Announces Chandelier Sales Soaring Despite Recession

2010-09-02

High street store Debenhams have revealed that home owners, eager to lift the gloom of the recession, have created the most unlikely shopping boom of all time - highly ornate chandeliers. Once the preserve of the rich and well-to-do, demand for the big, ever more elaborate, multi-bulb light fittings has been soaring ever since the first financial tremor hit the stock markets two years ago. Sales have increased with every successive bit of bad news, to reach an all time high this week, says Debenhams. Customer demand for this type of home lighting has led the store ...

Superbreak Reports Surge in Demand for Rail Theatre Break Packages

2010-09-02

Superbreak, the theatre break specialist, has reported a sharp increase in the number of rail inclusive theatre breaks being booked, on the run up to the busiest theatre season of the year. The Yorkshire-based tour operator has secured a number of budget and top price theatre tickets for a host of musicals and performances in London's West End as the autumn season approaches. What sets Superbreak apart from its competition is the ability for customers to tailor-make their breaks by adding a return rail journey from most UK mainline stations, including Edinburgh, Manchester ...

Prudential Reveals 1 in 3 UK Couples Know Nothing About Their Partner's Finances

2010-09-02

Prudential has revealed new research that shows UK couples could be risking poverty in old age because they are failing to talk to one another about financial planning for their retirement. The study found that nearly a third of couples (32 per cent) aged 40 and above but not yet retired* say they don't know or understand the details of their partner's retirement savings, with more than a fifth (22 per cent) saying they have never talked to their partner about financial planning for retirement. The findings from new research commissioned by Prudential reveal that ...

Thistle Named First Hotel Group to Achieve Full Hospitality Assured Accreditation

2010-09-02

Thistle has announced it is the first hotel group to be acknowledged with full Hospitality Assured accreditation throughout its entire portfolio having surpassed the strict assessment criteria within all of its hotels across the UK, a quarter of which achieving the highly-regarded 'world class' status. Measuring the quality and service of customer facing businesses specifically within the leisure and tourism industry, the Hospitality Assured accreditation is recognition of the group's high standards across its portfolio of excellently-located properties. Created ...

Governor Announces Crackdown on Unsafe Trucking Practices

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: