Nebraska drivers may want to think twice the next time they pass a semi. Nebraska State Patrol troopers are now riding with semi drivers in hopes of making roadways safer. The program is called "Trooper in a Truck."

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WEBVTT TAYLOR.TAYLOR: THE NEW PROGRAM ISCALLED TROOPER IN A TRUCK.NSP HAS TEAMED UP WITH THENEBRASKA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION.TO GET A BETTER VIEW OFDANGEROUS DRIVING HABITS WE RODE ALONG TODAY TO SEE WHATTHEY SEE.>> THIS IS A WHOLE DIFFERENTBALL GAME BEING UP HERE.TAYLOR: A TROOPER'S JOB WITH ATRUCKER'S POINT OF VIEW SGT. PHIL THEDE HOPS IN CORY'S TRUCK.>> GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TOGET UP MUCH HIGHER TO WHERE WECAN SEE DOWN INTO VEHICLES ANDTHE VEHICLES DON'T KNOW WE'REHERE SO THEY DON'T CHANGE THEIRDRIVING BEHAVIOR.TAYLOR: LEADING TO MORE STOPS.>> WHEN WE HAVE OFFICERS IN THEAREA AND SPECIFICALLY IN THETRUCK WE CAN TAKE INSTANT ACTIONON THE SAFETY VIOLATIONS.>> THAT KIA HAD A CLOCK ON AT 54-- AT .54 SECONDS.TAYLOR: THE TROOPER IN THE TRUCKCALLS THOSE VIOLATIONS INTOANOTHER OFFICER DRIVING IN ACRUISER AHEAD WHO THEN PULLSTHAT DRIVER OVER.>> I'LL GET THE KIA.TAYLOR: RATHER THAN THE BIGOFFENDERS THE PROGRAM CRACKSDOWN ON MORE OF THE SMALLERMISTAKES.>> IF WE CAN DEAL WITH THOSESOME OF THESE PEOPLE WE'REHOPING FOR ARE VOLUNTARYCOMPLAINTS SOME OF THESE PEOPLEHOPEFULLY WON'T GO TO THAT NEXTVIOLATION.TAYLOR: MISTAKES LIKE CHANGINGLANES WITHOUT SIGNALING,FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE AND CUTTINGOTHER DRIVERS OFF OH HE IS NOT.-- DRIVERS OFF.>> OH HE IS NOT.OH MY GOSH.HOW DID HE GET AHEAD OF THAT ONEVEHICLE.TAYLOR: THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFFTHAT YOU SEE ALL THE TIME.IT'S DANGEROUS DRIVING LIKE THISTRUCKERS SAY THEY SEE TIME ANDTIME AGAIN >> I'M PART OF THE TRUCKINGINDUSTRY AND IF WE DON'T TRY TOMAKE THINGS SAFER AND BETTER ONTHE ROAD WE NEED TO DO OUR PARTAS A TRUCKING COMPANY TOO ASWELL AS THE TROOPERS.TAYLOR: FOR DRIVERS IT MAY FEELLIKE A TRAP BUT TROOPERS SAYTHEY'RE ON THE FAST TRACK TODISASTER.>> I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE TRUECRIME THAN SAFETY VIOLATIONS AT80 MILE PER HOUR.IT'S HARD TO GET MORE DANGEROUSTHAN THAT.TAYLOR: NSP IS CONSIDERINGPUTTING STICKERS ON SEMI-CABSLETTING DRIVERS KNOW THERE'S ATROOPER INSIDE.

Advertisement 'Trooper in a Truck' program helps NSP crack down on dangerous driving Nebraska drivers may want to think twice the next time they pass a semi. Nebraska State Patrol troopers are now riding with semi drivers in hopes of making roadways safer. The program is called "Trooper in a Truck." Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Nebraska drivers may want to think twice the next time they pass a semi. Nebraska State Patrol troopers are now riding with semi drivers in hopes of making roadways safer.The program is called "Trooper in a Truck." NSP has teamed up with the Nebraska Trucking Association to get a better view of dangerous driving habits."This is a whole different ballgame being up here," Sgt. Phil Thede said.The program mixes a trooper's job with a trucker's point of view."Gives us an opportunity to get up much higher to where we can see down into vehicles and the vehicles don't know we're here," Thede said. "So, they don't change their driving behavior."The higher vantage point is leading to more stops."When we have officers in the area and specifically in the truck, we can take instant action on the safety violations," Lt. Kurt Von Minden said.The trooper in the semi cab calls those violations into another officer driving in a cruiser ahead. That officer then pulls the driver over.Rather than big offenders, the program cracks down on more of the smaller mistakes, including changing lanes without signaling, following too close and cutting off other drivers."If we can deal with those, some of these people we're hoping for are voluntary complaints," Thede said. "Some of these people hopefully won't go to that next violation."Truckers said they see dangerous driving time and time again, with people reading, texting and putting on make-up while driving."I'm part of the trucking industry," Jim Daws, owner of Daws Trucking said. "If we don't try to make things safer and better on the road, we need to do our part as a trucking company, too, as well as the troopers."For drivers it may feel like a trap, but troopers say they're on the fast track to disaster."I can't think of a more true crime than safety violations at 80 mph," Von Minden said. "It's hard to get more dangerous than that."NSP is considering putting stickers on semi cabs, letting drivers know there's a trooper inside. Whether there actually is or not, NSP hopes the signage would encourage people to driver safer.