Idaho Law Blog
ITD Board to Hold Subcommittee Meeting in Pocatello on 10/3/2016
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is responsible for all highways on the State Highway System, such as interstates, state highways and U.S. routes. On Monday, October 3, 2016 at 1:30 p.m., the ITD Board will hold a subcommittee meeting in Pocatello at the ITD offices located at 5151 South 5th Avenue. This subcommittee meeting will discuss an application to allow trucks weighing up to 129,000 pounds on a section of U.S. 30 in eastern Idaho. Subcommittee meetings have been held in other parts of the state to review and analyze the request to allow the increased weight on non-interstate, state-maintained highways. The ITD and a subcommittee can reject or approve the requests for new routes. For more information regarding the request to increase truck weight, go to: http://itd.idaho.gov/129K/default.htm.
In 2003, the Idaho Legislature passed House Bill 395 to create a pilot project that would test the effect of legally increasing the weight of trucks from 105,500 pounds to 129,000 pounds on 16 specified routes in the State of Idaho. Later in 2005 and 2007, 19 routes were added. One of the tasks of this pilot project was to study this increased legal weight upon roadway safety.
National research indicates that crashes decreased with the use of heavier trucks since there are fewer trucks on the road, but the severity of the crashes were much greater. Higher crash rates were noted for oversized, overweight trucks due to their handling and stability properties. ITD’s research on the impact of roadway safety lacked certainty due to the manner in which the data was collected, i.e. all large commercial vehicles in the state were tracked in the same category.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2014 there were approximately 111,000 people injured in crashes involving large trucks. Large trucks have blind spots, a larger turning radius, and longer stopping distances and are much different from other vehicles on the road in mobility and speed. It is important for motorists to be aware of these factors. To stay safe and avoid crashes on the roadways with larger trucks carrying heavier loads, drivers should know how to properly maneuver and yield around them.
Should an injury occur in an accident, there are many pressing needs and concerns. It can become overwhelming. The experienced personal injury legal team at Racine Olson Attorneys are available to problem solve and handle all the details associated with a personal injury crash. Please give us a call at 208-232-6101. The initial consultation and evaluation is free.
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