On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, a conversation about the Michigan State Police (MSP) deploying added enforcement in freeway work zones.

MC Lt. Jason Zylstra of MSP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) explains why they launched special enforcement in segments with major work like the heavily traveled I-96 in Ionia County.

MSP observes that 97 percent of at-fault crashes involving large trucks and buses are caused by driver behavior.

Zylstra also discusses:

• The need for trucks to maintain a proper distance to other vehicles.
• The dangers of trucks blocking lanes in zipper-merge zones and why law enforcement issues citations for that behavior.
• Special inspections for tires, equipment and other components of commercial vehicles.