Police officers in Texas are learning what truckers have known for a long time; if you want to reduce the number of crashes involving large commercial vehicles, target the driving habits of the 4-wheelers that surround them.
An increase in enforcement and ticketing in and around Fort Worth, TX has reduced the number of deadly accidents involving large trucks by 40% this year according to police. The Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT) program was implemented to try and cut down on the dangerous driving activity that occurs around large commercial vehicles.
Officers used an impartial eye to examine who was doing the unsafe driving and said that the vast majority of tickets were handed out to passenger vehicles, not to the big-rigs who usually get the blame. Since May, police officers have written almost 2,000 tickets as part of the TACT program for things like speeding, following too closely, and unsafe lane changes. Of those 2,000, only 260 were given to truck and bus drivers.
The TACT program seems to be working well. So far this year, only four people have died in crashes with large commercial vehicles in the Fort Worth Area, down from seven last year during the same time period.
“We’re never happy about a fatality, but we are happy that the number seems to be declining,” said Officer Robert Mills. “Anything at any time can happen, but we really believe that, through our combined efforts, we have made a difference.”
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Source: fleetowner
Michelle says
God Bless Texas.
OOWife says
More states should implement this same program ! ! !
Todd says
The problem is getting law enforcement to ENFORCE the law, I had a car cut me off in front of a police officer and he didn’t do a thing, of course he had his CELL PHONE stuck on his ear to be paying any attention……..
If the FMCSA is gonna stick us with EOBRs, at least have a camera attached with them to record people cutting us off and let them get a ticket in the mail just like red light cameras.
Stan says
I glad it is showing promise, just unfortunate that it took this long for law enforcement to figure it out. They probably spent 5 years and 50 million dollars on a study that told them exactly what any exp. trucker would have,
IF ONLY THE POWERS TO BE WOULD LISTEN TO THE GUYS THAT ACTUALLY DRIVE!
Tammie says
So, does this mean cars get EOBR’S and hidden cameras to see what their doing before crash, like applying make up
Mark says
Damn right.
James C says
One just hopes that this “Difference-Making” spreads nationwide.
Good work, Fort Worth Police! Our nation SORELY needs more departments like you!
Ron V says
Anymore I find truckers driving habits to be as bad as 4 wheelers. Abrupt last minute lane changes, cutting in, speeding etc. etc. The percentage of those drivers is very high.
Rob says
You’re delusional
Darren says
No he’s got a point, a lot of driver’s especially you youngsters have gotten more and more reckless. Not to mention self absorbed, rude, and very narcissistic. Now this is not everyone I know, I know, and I’m not saying that the four wheelers aren’t the problem. But dam it people we need to be self regulating and admit that we as a whole are not perfect ourselves! Before someone else does!
rick says
Guess u didn’t read the same story I did. Yes there r those drivers of big rigs that drive crazy. But I would bet it’s still the 4 wheeler who is at fought like the article states.
allen says
guess you haven’t sat in a truck stop and watched all these wonderful drivers barrel thru the parking lot!!!
YeOldeDave says
Damn the FW cops for using a little bit of common sense. Maybe they should go to the FMCSA and suggest something similar be done….. NATIONWIDE, 24/7/365!
The BILLIONS spent by the feds busting balls on trucks has been woefully mis-spent over the years. Might a lesson be learned in DC????? Right…..
Tammie says
Heck yeah, but, I think the program implemented bout CMV safety and holding companies and drivers accountable a good call; so no more excuses for bad equipment on the road. Now if we can get paid for all our work + miles and proper pay for our skills and experience
Karen says
There are still some drivers who have a difficult time with companies. I applied to work at a company who was extremely large but not on the national scale. They wanted to hire a few drivers. I learned where they kept their equipment and looked at their trailers. Bald tires, wire showing through, no brakes. I decided not to apply for a job. They ran ads for weeks looking for drivers but couldn’t find any. Can you imagine what would happen if a new driver hooked to that junk and pulled it onto a state scale? Of course the driver would be responsible for draging it down the highway. The company would just fire him, hire another person to finish out the run. Be careful about looking for driving jobs. I recommend going to the yard and giving the equipment a good looking over before you apply. I heard if a driver goes to an orientation but changes his mind and leaves, the company can put bad marks on DAC report. So look over the equipment before you go.
Steve Smith says
Sorry, I fail to see the relevance to the article you posted under?
That being said, the driver is responsible for the equipement he drives/pulls. If it’s not safe and he rolls, shame on him, and he should be penalized. I’ve never heard of a company putting remarks on your DAC if you leave orientation, but I find that difficult to believe, and I would have verified it myself before I posted it. Drivers that post what they’ve “heard” without verification spread more mis-information, which we already have too much of.
B says
It has happened I know a driver who never finished orientation and the company put that he violated company policy on his dac and would not tell other companies what he did.
mike says
Maybe Texas will come on line with Tenn?
greg says
This is why I love Texas.
Such a no non-sense state.
Take a hardline against something like this and you will find your results.
God Bless Texas.
Tankerdude says
I love reading stories like this, and the author get’s it exactly right: “Police officers in Texas are learning what truckers have known for a long time”.
I’m sure we all see it several times every single day: Aggressive or just plain STUPID dangerous moves by four-wheeler drivers with little to no regard for that 80-90,000 lb machine they’ve just pulled their latest stunt near.
I invite any and all law enforcement in NE Oklahoma to contact me for a ride-along. I’ll be happy to oblige.
Ron says
Good for Texas ! Put the blame where it really belongs. In boating the larger boat has the “right of way”….it should be that with cars,and trucks.When I drive a straight truck I let the big rigs go first.
Steve Smith says
WOW! It’s about time!! Once people learn to have a little more respect for these large vehicles that bring them literally EVERYTHING they own, maybe they’ll give them a little more room on the road. By respect I mean believe and react in such a way that shows YOU understand they are not Ferraris, they DO NOT start, stop, or turn on a dime. Don’t cut them off, give them a little space, be more tolerant of those that bring the freight to fill your Wal-marts, your Starbucks, your grocery stores, your malls, your home improvement centers, your car dealerships, yes, everything you own, including every nail in your house and every piece of your car was transported on a truck. We’re not on the road to go to work, to go on vacation, to visit relatives, or to go to the store or a movie, no, if a semi is on the road, he is working, period. If I were only as observant as the far majority of drivers in cars I’ve seen, I can’t tell you how many people I would’ve killed, but I have to watch you “four-wheelers” drive down the road CONSTANTLY texting, holding your phones and talking, READING books, papers, computers, holding plates and eating, just to name a few, so please, take a moment, think about it, and have some respect, then show it out on the road.
Mark says
Thank you Steve!
Most of us are good, safe, accident free drivers just trying to do our jobs and take care of the people we love just like everyone else.
Jason says
Maybe some of them 1740 tickets that they wrote to the 4 wheelers will generate enough revenue so TX dot will quit writing B.S. tickets during dot inspections. I’m all for seeing this but for everybody that’s saying god bless TX? Please have you forgotten about the last level one you got in TX? They are the only state that has ever complained about my FACTORY visor because the tips of my FACTORY LENGTH windshied wiper blades were obstructed by the visor. When they start writing more tickets for 4 wheelers, and cut back on the safety violations that aren’t violations I’ll give them some credit until then they get a good job but no handshake or pat on the back.
Trucker says
Truck drivers are tired of four wheelers that why cars get cut off or it may seem we exit last min to I would have my blinker on and to cars it mean speed up and beat me to the exit or the lane I’m trying to get in trucker drive aggressive because we have to or we will be stuck on the freeway wait on four wheelers driving on highways is our job not yours so show some respect to the ones that get food and clothing in your home!