State motor-vehicle regulators and troopers are launching Tuesday a three-day safety blitz, targeting unsafe vehicles and operators on interstates, state highways and local roads, authorities say.
The Department of Motor Vehicles’ safety division and Connecticut State Police are coordinating “Roadcheck 2013,” a 72-hour blitz that aims to raise awareness about the need for truck safety on the nation’s roads and to educate drivers and their companies about safety requirements.
DMV and troopers will target a variety of locations and conduct roving road patrols, authorities said. Spot checks will be performed on unsafe trucks and motor coaches, and traffic enforcement will be increased on commercial motor vehicles.
Patrols and enforcement of commercial trucks and motor coaches will occur in high-crash zones, including Interstates 91, 95, 84, 395, as well as along local roads. DMV and State Police will also staff various weigh stations in the state to checks trucks as the cross the border into Connecticut.
“Roadcheck is a timely opportunity to remind truck and bus companies that safety continues to be paramount here in Connecticut,” DMV Commissioner Melody A. Currey said in a statement. “Violators of these critical safety regulations and laws will have serious consequences such as fines and out-of-service orders.”
They have a lengthy checklist that is reviewed on each vehicle. Each full inspection can take up to an hour to complete. Penalties can include fines and out-of-service orders, Currey said.
Included in the checks are:
• Proper tires.
• Safely functioning brakes.
• Systems for securing a load.
• Working lights.
• Whether a driver is properly licensed and medically qualified.
• Whether a driver has exceeded the number of hours allowed for driving.
• Whether a driver is fatigued.
• Properly completed log books.
• Conformance with size and weight requirements.
