Maine targets passenger vehicle violations to improve commercial vehicle safety
The Maine State Police announced an enforcement initiative aimed at targeting passenger vehicle violations that contribute to crashes involving commercial trucks.
Passenger vehicles were involved in 65% of fatal commercial vehicle crashes in Maine in 2025, according to the Maine State Police. By targeting passenger vehicles violating traffic laws around trucks, Maine hopes to reduce preventable crashes and improve interactions between cars and trucks.
Maine’s Troop K Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit focused on Bangor, Winthrop, and the greater Portland area — locations identified as having high volumes of commercial traffic.
Troop K said its initiative aligns with broader safety goals shared with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), including reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles through enforcement, inspections, better data quality, and safer transportation practices.
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It is about time!
Driver education would help too. I don’t think that the average motorist understands the distance needed for a big rig to stop, or their blind spots.
Most Class 5 drivers in Alberta do not know how to drive safely – especially around a commercial vehicle. They do not understand the blind spots of a commercial vehicle driver, stopping distance, turning radius’ or acceleration rates. Several nieces, nephews and grand-kids have taken “Drivers Education” classes in recent years – not one can say they were educated on how and what to expect when interacting with a commercial vehicle. Why?
Its too bad Canada doesnt do this. Many drivers of passenger vehicles are ignorant of commercial vehicles and the inability to stop on a dime or the turning radius needed.
There should also be drivers ed courses mandated for anyone who drives with a trailer larger than 15 ft (recreational trailers).
Just my two cents.