Trooper Stephen Hammons, Public Information Officer for State Police Troop I in Lafayette visited 'Mornings With Ken and Bernie' today and discussed:

  • Atchafalaya Basin Bridge speed limits
  • Lane restrictions for tractor-trailers on the Basin Bridge
  • School bus safety
  • School zone speed limits

We asked Hammons why it seemed that tractor-trailers were never stopped for speeding or improper lane useage on the Atchafalya Basin-Bridge and he replied,

We actually do ticket the drivers of rigs that speed or use the left lane but because of the narrow shoulders on the bridge we have to take extra precautions.  What we do is pull alongside the rigs and signal them to follow us to the nearest exit ramp.  Once we escort them to a safe stopping point off the bridge we stop and ticket the offenders.

Hammons said in addition to a 55 MPH speed limit for commercial vehicles those vehicles are restricted to traveling in the right lane only.  A listener called in and asked Hammons if those restrictions applied to his fifth-wheel camper.  Hammons answered,

If the fifth wheel camper and pick-up truck towing the camper had a combined 10 wheels the driver would have to follow the same restrictions regarding lane use and speed as commercial vehicles.

Another caller asked Hammons if lower speed limits in school zones had to be observed even when school was not in session while another questioned school bus safety.  You can hear the answers to those questions by listening to the interview:

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