Motorists in Kentucky are more likely to see semi-tractor trailers and buses undergoing roadside inspections between June 6 and June 8 as inspectors step up their enforcement efforts during the annual International Roadcheck safety initiative. The effort is organized by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance with the goal of encouraging truck and bus drivers and commercial vehicle operators to observe road safety laws and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations.
The CVSA asks inspectors to pay particular attention to a different aspect of truck safety during International Roadcheck each year. Brake violations were the focus during the safety blitz in 2016, and this year inspectors will be focusing their efforts on cargo safety. Drivers who fail to properly secure their loads can expect a citation, but the CVSA has produced a flyer containing tips about securing cargo properly to help drivers and truck operators avoid having their vehicles ordered out of service.
Inspectors generally carry out North American Standard Level I inspections during International Roadcheck. These inspections are extremely thorough, and 21.5 percent of the more than 42,000 trucks and buses pulled over during the 2016 safety event were ordered out of service because of safety violations. Brake violations were the most common reason for ordering trucks off the road. The CVSA says that an average of about 15 commercial vehicles will be looked at during each minute of the 72-hour-long safety push.
The citations handed out during safety efforts like International Roadcheck can be valuable to personal injury attorneys seeking compensation for truck accident victims. Truck operators are expected to abide by all federal road safety regulations and take all reasonable steps to protect road users from harm, and a record of violations could be used by attorneys to establish a history of reckless behavior.