Kentucky, along with other states, participates in a national program running yearly that is entitled the "72-Hour Road Check." The safety initiative -- with a bottom line goal of reducing commercial truck accidents -- was conducted on highways across the state June 7 - 9.

Kentucky State Police ("KSP") officers deemed it a success, pointing to the increased safety that follows each time a truck they think is an imminent or potential danger is removed from the road.

Sgt. Pete Wilson, a KSP vehicle enforcement inspector, succinctly states the goals of the annual three-day campaign: "Making sure that the vehicles are safe. Making sure the brakes work. Making sure the vehicles can stop with the weight they're carrying. Making sure the drivers are not tired."

During 72-Hour Road Check, trucks are simply pulled over randomly and subjected to a thorough safety inspection. If a truck fails scrutiny, its driver must fix the defects and have that confirmed by Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement before getting back out on the road.

KSP officials note ancillary benefits deriving from the program, in addition to enhanced safety. They say that contraband is sometimes discovered, especially in big rigs with large loads. That most obviously means drugs.

And in a time of increased national security concerns, the examiners also keep a close eye out for inconsistencies in truckers' load bills and what they're actually hauling.

Related Resource: Wave 3, "Lawmen fight drugs and terrorism during check of commercial vehicles" June 10, 2011