Troopers are patrolling Chicago streets in a big rig to spot distracted drivers

The Illinois State Police announced that they are bringing their “Trooper in a Truck” ride-along program to the Chicago area.

For more than a year, the Illinois State Police have conducted “Trooper in a Truck” details, using the height advantage they enjoy sitting in the cab of a semi truck to look down into passenger vehicles and spot drivers who might be texting or who are otherwise distracted. When police spot a distracted driver, they radio ahead to a fellow trooper in a marked cruiser so that the driver can be pulled over and cited.

So far the Trooper in a Truck Details have been conducted on portions of I-57, I-55, I-70, but now state police say that they’ll be bringing the program to the Chicago area.

Though troopers are mainly focusing on distracted driving, they are also on the lookout for other dangerous driving behaviors like seatbelt violations.

During a Wednesday, June 19, Trooper in a Truck detail, police issued more than 20 tickets for various violations including distracted driving, following too closely, and improper lane changes, according to WGNTV.

The Trooper in a Truck program is conducted in partnership with the  Illinois Trucking Association.

Check out the report below for more on the Trooper in a Truck program.