WAUKESHA, Wis. (Civic Media) — The Wisconsin State Patrol is taking to the skies, sort of, with their Trooper in a Truck initiative hitting Waukesha roads on Tuesday. Troopers will be perched in the cabs of semi-trucks and buses, giving them a bird’s-eye view to spot distracted drivers and other traffic violations.
The approach is part of a statewide effort running this week and it’s aimed at reducing crashes and injuries involving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). The program, now in its third year, is a collaboration between the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association.
When infractions are seen, the trooper will radio nearby patrol cars to initiate appropriate enforcement action. They’ll be primarily watching for distracted driving, speeding, reckless driving, and following too closely.
Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Drivers need to pay attention on the road, especially around large trucks and buses. Commercial motor vehicles have large blind spots, limited maneuverability and require longer distances to stop”.
Wisconsin is averaging about 7,000 crashes involving large trucks annually over the past five years. In 2023 alone, 70 people died in these incidents.
