TN trooper severely injured by truck

An update on the Trooper. He seems to be making vast improvements, but he's not out of the woods yet.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/26/truck-driver-in-court-thp-sergeant-hurt-in-crash/

 

The 911 tapes have been released. And the link to the news story is below.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/22/a-desperate-rescue-911-tapes-show-fight-to-save/

 

The 14hr rule should be modified to allow the clock to be stopped for a 1 or 2hr period to allow a driver to get some rest without worrying about time running out!

 

I gotta admit.....

Why did a trooper pull over to the side of the road on a shoulder to do paperwork?

I have worked for the DOT and stood on the side of the road with traffic screaming by at 70 MPH. It scares the hell out of me. You are nothing but a target.

So what if he's a state trooper. There are better and safer places to stop and do paperwork than the shoulder. Especially if you are not fully focused on the drivers that ARE on the road. You are playing Russian roulette.

No, I am not giving the trucker a by on this either.

 

I see it all the time....

 

He had just issued a driver a citation and hadn't moved from the spot but had released the driver.

 

Truly incredible. Hoping the trooper makes a full recovery and returns to duty. The flatbed driver Lewis appears to be a real work of art, like many at my current employer. Leaving shortly for greener pastures.

 

That's what you are supposed to do. The law is "Move over or slow down", not cut off the soccer mom in the mini van and force her onto the shoulder. If you cant safely move over, you should slow to at least half the posted speed limit.

 

What's even worse about this is...the driver was teaming,he had his partner in the bunk.

 

So we can go back to the days of being up 20+ hours because the clock stopped and the company would take advantage of it? No thank you I get way more rest and sleep under the new rules than before. I've been driving for 17 years so I've seen 3 changes in the rules.