The state of Michigan announced the beginning of a new, summer-long semi truck inspection blitz yesterday.
According to a press release, Michigan State Police will be launching the special enforcement operation on Monday, June 26th.
The new commercial vehicle enforcement campaign has been named “The Summer Of Semi Safe D,” an acronym for the specific areas of truck safety the officers will focus on at specific dates during the summer.
The enforcement operation will begin with a focus on Speed, lasting from June 26th-June 30th, it will continue with Awareness regarding intersections, construction zones etc. on July 10th-14th.
Fastening seat belts and Following too close will be the focus of July 24th-28th, and Education will take over August 7th-11th.
Finally, a focus on the dangers of Distracted Driving will bring the enforcement campaign to a close August 21st-25th.
Capt. Michael A. Krumm of the Michigan State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, says that this summer blitz is “in direct response to what we saw on our roads in 2016.” Of all the fatal wrecks involving commercial vehicles in Michigan in the last year “72% are said to have involved a semi truck” the MSP added.
“Michigan continues to be one of the safest states in the Midwest for commercial vehicle traffic, but the [statistics] need to be addressed,” concluded Krumm.
Police say that the ultimate goal of the commercial vehicle enforcement campaign is to reduce the number of fatalities on the road yearly.