Posted on April 1, 2025 at 9:36 AM by Kelly Madden
Conducting a traffic stop is part of our daily operations. Some traffic stops result in a citation being written, while others are issued a warning. Each situation is different, and we try to take an opportunity for community education with each stop.
Rome has several major highways and travel corridors which are utilized by commercial motor vehicles. Driving too fast for conditions is one of the most common safety issues for these heavy vehicles. It is also one of the leading causes of traffic crashes in the United States.
Driving too fast for conditions is commonly defined as traveling at a speed that is greater than a reasonable standard for safe driving. Examples of conditions where drivers may find themselves driving too fast include wet roadways (rain, snow, or ice), reduced visibility (fog), uneven roads, construction zones, curves, intersections, gravel roads, and heavy traffic. The Large Truck Causation Study (LTCCS) reported that 23 percent of large-truck crashes occurred when commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers were traveling too fast for conditions.
As a driver, did you know....
- Commercial vehicle drivers should reduce speed by 1/3 on wet roads and by ½ or more on snow-packed roads?
- Water mixes with oils on the road when it begins to rain, making the road particularly slippery?
- Commercial Motor Vehicle manufacturers generally advise drivers not to use a retarder (aka Jake Brake) on wet or slippery conditions. A recent accident reconstruction showed than an enabled retarder triggered the loss of control and an eventual crash on a high-grade roadway?
- Right at 40% of all speeding related fatalities occur on curves?
- Even though off/on ramps make up less than 5% of all highway miles, they make up 20 to 30% of all large truck crash locations?
- Nearly ¼ of all work zone-related deaths involved a commercial motor vehicle?
Hopefully you will find these facts helpful in your traffic interactions with commercial motor vehicles. Stay vigilant and aware when traveling in and around these large vehicles, and as always, drive safe and distraction free. If you ever have a question about traffic or would like to invite our Special Operations Unit out to visit your class or group, don't hesitate to ask! Just send us a note and we'll take it from there!