EDITORIAL: Devote more energy to truck safety

Indiana State Police and federal inspections of heavy trucks in Lake and Porter counties have resulted in more than a quarter of those trucks being taken out of service for serious safety violations. Yet there are few inspectors on the job.

While it's good to know inspectors are on the job, think about the high truck traffic volume in Northwest Indiana each day. The Borman Expressway and Interstate 65 alone account for an estimated 2 million heavy trucks each year.

Yet between 2003 and 2008, state police and federal inspectors checked just 34,856 heavy trucks. That's an annual average of 5,809, many of which were random inspections at the three weigh stations in Northwest Indiana.

This is a serious safety issue. The potential for disaster resulting from faulty brakes, inadequate lights, tired drivers or other problems should not be ignored.

There are just five state inspectors working at the three weigh stations in Lake and Porter counties, although U.S. Department of Transportation workers help out a few times a year, and some state troopers conduct roving patrols in areas with high truck traffic.

Scott Fleming, who supervises the five state inspectors here, said he and his inspectors are working with trucking companies and owner-operators to develop safety programs and identify potential violations before the trucks hit the road. That's a good step.

Work with truck driving schools, too, to impress on drivers the need to put safety first. Truck drivers must be reminded of the danger of not just faulty equipment but also of fatigue. Tired truck drivers, especially those who are behind the wheel longer than federal regulation allows, are a danger not just to themselves and their cargo but also to others on the road. It takes longer for a heavy vehicle to stop, putting smaller vehicles and their occupants in serious danger.

Making matters worse is that budget cuts two years ago cut the number of Indiana's state police truck inspectors by 50 percent. That's a serious safety issue.

As the economy improves, and consequently the state's revenues pick up, Indiana needs to devote more resources toward inspecting heavy trucks and improving safety on the state's roads.

It is of particular concern in Northwest Indiana, where the proximity to Chicago increases traffic volumes, but also throughout Indiana.