In response to two fatal accidents involving trucks, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal will hire an extra 60 highway safety officers to patrol trucks around the port and the “high crash corridors” on I-16 and I-95. This would increase the number of Georgia commercial vehicle enforcement officers to 300. Deal says the officers will be checking for proper permits and looking for potential violations.
The announcement comes in response to public outrage over the April 22 crash that killed 5 nursing students and the May 20 accident where a truck hit two cars and caught fire, killing 5.
Governor Deal chose to make the announcement about increased enforcement at a weigh-station on I-16 at mile marker 144 in Bryan County, a gesture that seems intended to send a message to truck drivers.
Deal was urged to act on the accidents by Jimmy Deloach, an influential politician and developer whose granddaughter was killed in the April wreck. Deal’s push for truck safety is augmented by U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, who is working with House Democrats to increase safety regulations on truck drivers.
Sources:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Savannah Now