STATE AGENCIES PARTNER TO REDUCE CRASHES INVOLVING COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES

Col. John Czernis, director of the Florida Highway Patrol, and Col. David Dees, director of the Department of Transportation’s Office of Motor Carrier Compliance, today announced the results of the two-day, statewide traffic education and enforcement campaign conducted last week. The two law enforcement agencies worked together to save lives by reducing unsafe driving acts that contribute to crashes involving large commercial trucks and school buses. The operation is part of

FHP’s Be Smart. Drive Smart, Florida! campaign, which focuses on specific traffic violations. The Patrol and the OMCC conducted the operation on Nov. 16 and 17, 2009.

“During the operation, our troopers maximized their visibility and enforcement activity to safeguard the motoring public,” said Czernis. “These initiatives are part of our ongoing education and enforcement efforts that have helped us reduce Florida’s 2008 traffic-related fatality rate to the lowest the state has reported in the past nine years.”

“Our officers are committed to overseeing commercial motor vehicles,” said Dees. “We are constantly working to make certain the goods being delivered to Florida get here in a safe manner. It is imperative that commercial truck drivers set the example by obeying state and federal laws and regulations meant to protect their safe passage and that of the motoring public.”

During the two-day period:

· OMCC conducted 573 safety inspections on Commercial Motor Vehicles

· OMCC placed 81 vehicles out of service for safety violations

· Both agencies combined issued more than 6,600 citations for traffic violations

· Both agencies combined issued 462 citations to CMV operators

The Florida Highway Patrol would like to remind all motorists to Move Over when approaching patrol cars, emergency vehicles or tow trucks parked on the roadside displaying flashing lights. Please give us room to work and help us stay safe while we do our jobs.

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles offers safety tips on sharing the road, school bus safety and much more on the Safety First Web page at www.flhsmv.gov/SafetyTips/.