I’ve been there. It’s not uncommon to pull a trucker over and hear him ask, “Why did you stop me?”
Sometimes there is an easy answer. Other times it’s more complicated. Either way, it’s not uncommon for the driver to think the officer is picking on them. Often people don’t accept that their actions caught the officer’s eye, not the fact that they were driving a truck, a red car, or a sports car.
Enforcement notices the actions of professional truck drivers more than those of other drivers. That’s because an 18-wheeler is the biggest vehicle on the road, and it is easy to spot not only by the officer but also by all people on the roadway.
Most times, it is something the trucker did or didn’t do in traffic. Oftentimes, it is something the truck driver does without thinking—and therein lies the problem.
Speeding is reason No. 1. “Pedal-to-the-metal” drivers are easy to spot. But at times, it’s just the trucker mindlessly “staying with the flow of the traffic” where the traffic itself is “flowing” too fast. Certainly, everyone should slow down. A truck, however, takes longer to stop so that’s where enforcement places its focus.
See also: Operation Safer Driver Week 2022 focuses on speeders
Speeding also will grab law enforcement's attention during special events such as International Roadcheck, Operation Safe Driver Week, and others. Commercial vehicle law enforcement will look at all trucks, but a speeding truck will not escape notice.
Other reasons to stop a truck could include unsafe lane changes, following too close, failure to obey traffic signs, or the driver not wearing a seat belt. With each one, just a little thought and attention by the driver would have kept that truck moving on down the road.
Just think—and that’s the whole point, just think. Truck drivers need to remember to give extra attention and care when merging on or off a freeway, changing lanes, and sharing the road. Trucks are the biggest thing out there. A thoughtless crash with a truck involved could have significant consequences. Officers often stop trucks to prevent those crashes.
On the positive side, the size of trucks and the perspective truck drivers have from up there in the cab create an opportunity for them to make highways safer for everyone. Truck drivers can see over the top of everyone, perhaps spotting a hazard ahead, an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road, or highway workers setting up lane closures. Truckers can warn other drivers by activating their emergency flashers and using turn signals early to indicate a needed lane change. A little thought not only avoids having the truck stopped, it also keeps everyone safe.
See also: Two good chances to spread safe-driving message
Why was my truck stopped? There may be an easy answer, or it may be that the highway patrol sought to prevent a potential accident. But as a former law enforcement officer, I ask one favor: For the safety of the driver and law enforcement personnel, when an officer stops a truck, the driver needs to select a safe location to pull over. Dozens of officers are killed each year when struck by other vehicles during stops. Please find a safe location. Drivers can acknowledge that they see a law enforcement vehicle by turning on their emergency flashers and beginning to slow a little, just enough to let the officer know they are aware of a law enforcement presence.
The ensuing conversation will no doubt begin with “Why did you stop me?” But at least this will be a conversation that is conducted safely.
Steve Vaughn is VP of field operations at PrePass Safety Alliance, the provider of PrePass weigh station bypass and toll-payment and management services. Vaughn served nearly three decades with the California Highway Patrol and is a past president of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.
