Kentucky needs to maintain vehicles off of the commonwealth’s rural roads

Kentucky needs to maintain massive industrial automobiles from utilizing its rural roads for shortcuts.

The Kentucky Transportation Cupboard (KYTC) and Kentucky State Police Division of Business Car Enforcement are reminding long-haul truck drivers to remain on routes which were established as acceptable for the load and dimension of their automobiles.   

KYTC District 1 in Paducah and Kentucky State Police Submit 1 in Mayfield have elevated efforts to discourage tractor-trailers from making an attempt shortcuts on rural secondary roads that weren’t designed for giant cross-country vehicles. They are saying it is a frequent drawback throughout the commonwealth and neighboring states.  

“It is a recurring concern as drivers attempt to save on time and gas,” District 1 Chief District Engineer Kyle Poat stated. “However our rural secondary roads weren’t constructed for normal through-travel by automobiles of such dimension and weight.”   

In a current assertion, the transportation cupboard and state police stated the battle is taking part in out on roads throughout the commonwealth akin to KY Hwy 286, which crosses southern Ballard County and kinds a cut-through between Wickliffe and Paducah. They stated over the past three years, there have been 119 crashes, 40 harm crashes and 5 fatalities alongside simply over 16 miles of KY 286.

About 30 of the crashes concerned a semi or “STAA truck,” a reference to the Floor Transportation Help Act of 1982.  The regulation established and outlined a nationwide truck community of highways and bridges appropriate for giant vehicles. Of the 24 most up-to-date crashes on KY 286, about half concerned industrial vehicles.   

“No Truck” indicators have been put in at every finish of KY 286 and at state freeway intersections. Business Car Enforcement officers have additionally stepped up patrols and written quite a few citations.   

When the instances got here earlier than the district courtroom, the decide expressed his opinion in regards to the want for signage indicating no vehicles. CVE Officer Mark Townsend requested KYTC District 1 for assist and “No Truck” indicators have been put in, in accordance with the 2 companies.

“The indicators will assist with enforcement efforts as extra instances come up in district courtroom,” Townsend stated. “The obligation falls on the CDL-carrying skilled driver. The driving force is required to comply with a route that retains the truck on the Nationwide Truck Community.”   

To keep away from the restricted part of KY 286, cross-country truckers touring between Wickliffe and Paducah ought to comply with U.S. 60. The “No Truck” indicators and restrictions don’t apply to native farmers or vehicles making native deliveries alongside KY 286.   

The widespread use of cellphone GPS mapping apps created for passenger automobiles additionally contributes to vehicles ending up on inappropriate routes, in accordance with the assertion. The cellphone apps lack options that mark low overpasses, and denote slender roadways and different obstacles vehicles ought to keep away from.   

For instance, Poat stated long-haul truck drivers following passenger car cellphone apps are generally routed onto the U.S. 45 Ohio River “Brookport” Bridge, which has weight, top and car width restrictions that prohibit industrial vehicles.

Truckers following cellphone mapping programs usually hit a low railroad overpass in Hickman County alongside KY 307 north of KY 94, regardless of quite a few warning indicators. The issue turns into extra acute when truckers comply with cellphone apps whereas making an attempt to detour round crashes that block main routes.   

Poat says truckers may stop hassle for themselves and different freeway customers by buying a GPS unit or map app particularly programmed to direct over-the-road vehicles to the Nationwide Truck Community. 

KYTC is asking a number of web sites that cater to long-haul truckers to assist alert industrial drivers to the hazards of navigating with cellphone map apps that aren’t designed for SEMI vehicles. The company additionally supplied an inventory of mapping programs and apps which might be particularly designed for industrial vehicles. That checklist consists of: