Pennsylvania State Police Earn High Marks for Motor Carrier Safety Data

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania State Police recently earned the highest possible rating from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for providing timely, accurate crash and inspection data.

Pennsylvania's motor carrier safety assistance program is a cooperative effort of the State Police, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and the numerous municipal police departments that employ specially trained officers to inspect trucks.  

"Safety is our top priority, and motorists depend on us to keep Pennsylvania roadways safe," said State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan. "This multi-agency partnership is key to identifying driver and vehicle safety deficiencies, and removing them from our roadways.''

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration uses the data to evaluate the safety posture of motor carriers and target those identified as high risk for state and federal enforcement action.

In 2010, Pennsylvania's motor carrier inspectors conducted more than 93,000 random truck inspections across the state, a 14-percent increase from 2009, and weighed more than 435,000 trucks. Troopers also inspected more than 28,000 school buses across Pennsylvania.

During inspections, officers examine required commercial driver credentials and check vehicle components such as tires and brakes, which can contribute to crashes if not properly maintained. Severe violations can cause either the truck or driver to be placed out of service until those deficiencies are corrected. More than 88,000 such safety violations were discovered last year.

"The fact that we have been nationally recognized for consistently providing timely and accurate truck data to the federal government, while also maintaining a high standard of roadside enforcement, speaks to the hard work and dedication of our motor carrier enforcement personnel," Noonan said.

Media contact: Sgt. Anthony Manetta, 717-783-5556

SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police

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