WSP combating fatigued truckers

In an attempt to reduce the number of fatigued commercial vehicle drivers on our roads, the Washington State Patrol’s (WSP) Commercial Vehicle Division (CVD) is partnering with Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia authorities to improve highway safety. WSP troopers and commercial vehicle enforcement officers are in the midst of an enforcement emphasis focused on commercial vehicle driver’s hours of service. Officers will stop and cite drivers who exceed their maximum allowable time behind the wheel.

"This emphasis is designed to send a clear message to truck drivers that fatigue driving is a serious threat to highway safety and will not be tolerated," said Washington State Patrol Assistant Chief Mike DePalma, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau.

The emphasis patrols will run through Aug. 21.

During the emphasis, Washington will open all truck scales throughout the state as staffing allows, and conduct roving patrols to inspect trucks and drivers who attempt to avoid the inspection sites by traveling on bypass routes.

Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia will share data and information during the emphasis to help verify the hours of service of drivers suspected of exceeding their time behind the wheel or altering their driver log books.

Although actual percentage estimates vary, it is widely acknowledged that driver fatigue is a factor in many commercial vehicle crashes. For this reason, federal regulations limit the number of both consecutive and cumulative hours a commercial vehicle driver may operate his or her vehicle without an off-duty rest period. Enforcement of these limits is essential to ensure compliance, combat driver fatigue, and assure our roadways remain safe for all motorists.

For information about the Hours of Service Regulations that all commercial vehicle drives must comply with, please go t fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/hos/index.htm, or to WSP’s Web site at wsp.wa.gov/traveler/cvd.htm.