Louisiana State Police have a simple message for truckers crossing the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge: "Stay in the right lane!"
The LSP recently ticketed 26 commercial truck drivers cited for left-lane violations, according to the Acadiana Advocate.
The tickets were handed out during a recent targeted enforcement operation on the 18.2 mile long span that carries Interstate 10 over the Atchafalaya Basin river swamp. It carries between 30,000 and 50,000 vehicles a day between Lafayette and Baton Rouge.
The joint operation, which covered portions of the bridge in St. Martin and Iberville parishes, was launched after state police received numerous complaints about commercial vehicles traveling in the left lane.
Commercial vehicles are required by law to remain in the right lane while crossing the bridge.
Troopers from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Regions I and II worked with air support units during the operation. Officers conducted 26 commercial vehicle inspections and issued 26 citations.
Troopers also identified four additional safety violations and placed one commercial driver out of service.
Troopers said they expect to continue enforcement efforts on the bridge.
Study: Rural roads have more fatalities
- Rural roads recorded 1.56 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled versus 1.01 on urban roads, approximately 54% higher
- Nearly 72% of rural traffic deaths occurred on roads posted at 55 mph or higher, compared with 28% of urban deaths
- Among fatal-crash vehicles with confirmed speeds, 7,017 were traveling between 55 and 69 mph, the largest single speed group
- Another 3,077 vehicles were recorded in the 70–99 mph range
- Rural roads accounted for 79.1% of traffic deaths in Montana, 74.8% in Wyoming and 63.6% in New Mexico, compared with 8.3% in Massachusetts
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