FMCSA announces multi-state blitz along I-81 corridor

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced a high-visibility traffic enforcement campaign taking place in multiple states this week.

According to the FMCSA, from June 20 through June 24, there will be extra enforcement along I-81.

During the traffic enforcement effort, state and local law enforcement will patrol the I-81 corridor in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia looking for unsafe driving behaviors like speeding, following too closely, and distracted driving.

The purpose of the I-81 traffic enforcement is to focus on safe driving for commercial motor vehicles and the passenger vehicles operating around those large vehicles, according to the FMCSA.

According to the FMCSA, I-81 is one of the most heavily traveled corridors in the eastern United States. In 2018-2020, there were over 3,200 collisions on I-81 involving commercial motor vehicles in the key states of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The FMCSA provided tips for both commercial vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers.

For commercial motor vehicle drivers:

• The enforcement waves along the I-81 corridor emphasize the need for all vehicles to share the road safely.
• Always obey all traffic laws: Wear your seatbelt, obey the speed limit, slow for work zones, and don’t drive distracted. Unsafe driving behaviors can lead to crashes and fatalities.
• Make sure your vehicle is in safe working order, and follow all regulations regarding hours of service, medical certification, and CMV credentialing and driver licensing.
• Additional tips for commercial motor vehicle drivers can be found at FMCSA’s website here.

For passenger vehicle drivers:

• Obey the speed limit on I-81 and wear your seatbelt.
• Never drive distracted or impaired.
• When driving around large trucks and buses, be patient and leave more space.
• Drivers of large trucks and buses have natural blind spots: Don’t cut off commercial motor vehicles or drive on the left or right side of them for a long period of time.
• Big trucks take 40% more space to stop: Don’t follow commercial motor vehicles too closely or merge or make sudden stops directly in front of them.