Minnesota Trucking Association Campaigning For Minnesota Trucking Safety

Some of the writers here at the Injuryboard have been looking at the issues involved with trucking safety. It’s informative and makes safety sense to look some of these articles over:

Who’s driving that semi-truck on the Interstate heading toward my family?,Beth Janicek | January 15, 2010 11:58 AM

Part 2: Who’s driving that semi-truck on the Interstate heading towards my family?, Beth Janicek | January 18, 2010 12:00 PM

Did driver fatigue play a part in causing a horrific crash on I-80 in PA?, Steve Lombardi | January 11, 2010 12:01 PM

Trucking Industry Driving Tips for Adverse Weather Conditions, Jeremy Thurman | January 14, 2010 5:05 PM, Oklahoma City, OK

What should Iowans know about how NAFTA affects highway safety?, Steve Lombardi | January 15, 2010 1:28 PM

Does the Semi-Truck Driver Speak English?, Jeremy Thurman | January 18, 2010 12:31 PM

Here in Minnesota, I found it interesting that the Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) has announced a year-long effort to make the local roads safer. In a program called "Keep Both Hands on the Wheel" they will focus on reducing distracted driving by engaging truckers, their employers, contractors and the public to follow safe driving habits.

MTA also will provide members, truckers and the general public with tips to stay alert, such as:

• Understand and follow current Minnesota law, including the ban on texting.

• Avoid using a hand-held mobile device while driving. When a mobile phone is necessary, use hands-free technology or stop at a safe place to complete the call.

• Minimize eating and drinking while driving. Breaks for food and liquid while driving keep drivers focused during longer hauls.

• Avoid fixating on non-driving objects. This includes outside objects, such as billboards or buildings, and in-vehicle distractions, such as paperwork or adjusting the radio.

"You can make as many laws as you want, but safe driving starts with taking responsibility for your driving habits, keeping your hands on the wheel and staying focused on the road and drivers around you," said John Hausladen, president of MTA.

This effort needs to be applauded and hopefully will make a difference on our roads. Data published by DPS recorded 287 fewer truck-related crashes in 2008 compared to 2007. Additionally, fatalities involving large trucks dropped 17.8 percent in 2008. Meanwhile, mileage logged by trucks over the two decades has increased 70 percent as commercial trucking remains a critical link for Minnesota’s local economies.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding an 18-wheeler accident in Minnesota, please feel free to contact us. In Texas, we recommend you call upon Beth Janicek for legal advice. In Oklahoma, Noble McIntyre and Jeremy Thurman of Oklahoma-Law.com serve those with I-35 collision or accident questions. And in Iowa, call Steve Lombardi, with the Lombardi Law Firm.