Image by Denise McQuillen from Pixabay
After a record-high 15,800 crashes involving heavy-duty trucks last year in Michigan, a new statewide education campaign will launch Labor Day weekend urging truck drivers and motorists to use extra caution on roadways.
The campaign was prompted by a 32% increase in crashes involving trucks and buses in the past five years. In 2015, there were nearly 12,000 truck or bus crashes on Michigan roads, compared with 15,800 reported last year.
“Truck drivers and motorists need reminders to allow more space between vehicles, avoid truck blind spots and double-check that it’s clear before changing lanes,” said Michelle Zemla, MCTS project director.
“Whether you’re behind the wheel of a semi or a compact car, it should always be safety first,” Zemla added
The safety program was created by the Michigan Center for Truck Safety (MCTS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving highway safety through commercial truck driver education and training.
Using billboard, social media, radio and digital video advertising, the campaign will focus on two main areas of concern:
- Stopping distances – Because of its size and weight, a semitruck requires at least two football fields to stop when traveling at 65 mph. Federal safety guidelines suggest leaving at least three seconds between a truck and another vehicle to allow a safer stop.
- Blind spots/changing lanes – Approximately one in three crashes involves a truck or another vehicle changing lanes at the wrong time. Because semitrucks have four large blind spots – in front, in back and on each side – truck drivers are encouraged to check twice before changing lanes. In addition, motorists should avoid driving in a truck’s blind spots.
About one-quarter of all truck or bus crashes occur on freeways – most often in Wayne, Oakland, Berrien and Kent counties, according to the most recent Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center data.
Over the last decade, 9.5% of all crashes in Michigan involving a semitruck or bus occurred on Interstate 94. Of those crashes, one-third took place in Wayne County, followed by 15% in Berrien County.
In addition, 6% of truck-involved crashes took place on Interstate 75 (40% in Wayne County and 26% in Oakland County), 5% on Interstate 96 (30% in Wayne County and 16% in Oakland County) and 2.5% on U.S. Route 131 (47% in Kent County).
Less than 3% of crashes result in death or serious injury, Zemla said, and they most often occur in September and October.
“Michigan is heading into its high season for crashes,” said Charles Culton, MCTS safety specialist.
“So it’s more important than ever to pay extra attention.” Culton added.
The awareness program is funded by the state of Michigan’s Truck Safety Fund.
More information about the campaign is available at TruckingSafety.org.
