Kentucky State Police to Participate in Operation SafeDRIVE

Safety effort to help prevent commercial motor vehicle-related crashes

Frankfort Ky. (August 5, 2024) –The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Commercial Vehicle Enforcement will participate in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Operation SafeDRIVE (Distracted Reckless Impaired Visibility Enforcement) from Tuesday, August 6, 2024, to Thursday, August 8, 2024. This enforcement campaign targets unsafe driving behavior, often leading to passenger and commercial vehicle crashes. It complements national efforts to educate all drivers on safely sharing roads with large trucks.

 The national SafeDRIVE initiative cracks down on dangerous interstate driving behaviors such as aggressive driving, speeding, tailgating, failing to wear a seat belt, distracted driving, and driving under the influence. During this effort, KSP Commercial Vehicle Inspectors will open scale facilities, ensuring commercial drivers follow safety regulations, including hours of service compliance, commercial driver license compliance, medical certification, and commercial motor vehicle credentialing.

Sgt. Jason Morris, West Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Spokesperson, says Operation SafeDRIVE can increase highway safety.

“Our officers know how important safety is on Kentucky roads and highways,” said Morris. “Operation SafeDRIVE ensures that drivers follow the rules of the road so everyone can arrive at their destination unharmed.”

KSP encourages all motorists to take the following advice while driving on the roads:

· Stay out of blind spots: Large trucks and buses have large blind spots on all four sides.

· Pass safely: Make sure you can see the truck driver in their side mirror and use a turn signal. Ensure you can see the CMV vehicle in your rearview mirror before pulling 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 commercial vehicle puts you in a blind spot.

Operation SafeDRIVE coordinates with a national campaign run by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration called “Our Roads, Our Safety,” which educates all motorists on how to share the road safely.

The mission of KSP is to promote public safety through service, integrity, and professionalism. The agency uses partnerships to prevent, reduce, and deter crime. KSP promotes highway safety through education and enforcement, safeguards property, and protects individual rights. Learn more about Commercial Vehicle Enforcement here