WSP Encourages Safety Around Trucks During Harvest

Soon the highways and byways will be littered with trucks delivering potatoes, apples and all the great produce from around the area.

Lt. Tom Foster of the Washington State Patrol said that there will be more congestion on the roadways coming soon.

“We definitely see an increase in volumes when we get into the agricultural season. There’s lots of trucks moving around, moving farmers produce.”

And those truck drivers as trying to get those goods to market as quickly, and as safely as posible.

Lt. Foster said it’s important drivers watch for those trucks, and use caution to realize the limitations that those trucks have.

"Those guys don't have the same stopping distance that you do. Don't get in front of them and cut them off and expect that they can react the same way as you. The driver probably can, but his vehicle can’t.”

Foster said the best thing any driver can do is to give plenty of space in front of a truck.

And it won’t just be crops being transported. There will also be a lot of farm machinery moving around, but those are identified with pilot cars.

Foster added that it is possible to be cited for cutting off a truck if the driver of the truck has to slam the brakes to avoid an accident.