Tennessee roadways still seeing tractor trailers in places they shouldn’t

Residents in a Tennessee town say that a state-implemented tractor trailer restrictions on local roadways has done little to prevent the trucks from traveling the roadways. 

Back in October, Tennessee state and local officials implemented a rule banning trucks over 30 feet long from traveling on State Route 116. Since then, Anderson County locals say truck traffic has decreased, but has not stopped, and is still creating dangerous situations. 

“We don’t pass them anymore in the early school mornings, but earlier than that when my kids are getting up, like 6 a.m., you’ll see them come through and they don’t even slow down. They go so fast,” said resident Lacey Barber to 10 News.

“You know you have parents that are coming home from ball games o their kids are in extracurriculars and the trucks are hogging both lanes,” Barber continued. “We were coming to try to pass this tractor-trailer. It would not let us pass at all. It was over into our lane and all these other things. The truck is going faster than me and when he throws his brakes on, smoke just starts rolling and that’s all you can smell is his brake system.”

Tennessee Highway Patrol says that they are continuously enforcing the truck restrictions on SR 116, but are working with TDOT to install signs in the Oliver Springs area, where trucks are thought to enter the roadway most frequently. 

“We currently have troopers assigned to Highway 116 every day to ensure compliance with the new restriction. Anyone who disregards the signs and violates the truck restriction is subject (to) ticket,” said THP Spokesperson Keith Ogle.