How to Drive Safely with Commercial Vehicles

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- The Ohio State Highway Patrol is urging drivers to be cautious when driving near, and along, commercial vehicles.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Lieutenant, Matt Boyd, advised drivers to be knowledgeable of commercial vehicles blind spots, stopping distance, an their maneuverability. Boyd also stressed that drivers be more patient with commercial vehicles.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Lieutenant, Matt Boyd, said, “Commercial vehicles are much more limited in their maneuverability people tend to follow them to closely. Or, what I guess I would say is hangout in their blind spot.” Boyd added, “Pay more attention, have a little more patience around them, understand that it is a lot harder to see out of those vehicles.”

Boyd added that lane change violations are the number one violation for commercial vehicles due to their blind spots. He also assured that they are making sure that trucks are using Ohio roads safely, as they have conducted over a quarter of a million truck inspections in the past three years.

Boyd stated, “Our commercial people that do the other inspections look for, they’re checking out the vehicle and the driver, both pretty extensively. They are looking at brakes, tires, load securement. And as far as the driver they are looking how long they have been driving, looking at their log books to see how long they have been driving, if they have been taking adequate breaks.”

If vehicles do not meet these regulations, they will be put out of service until they are able to meet the standards. Boyd asked that all drivers exercise caution as that is the number one way to avoid commercial vehicle crashes.