A Morning on Interstate 81

On the morning of April 23, while traveling northbound on Interstate 81 between Roanoke and Harrisonburg, Va., Combs noticed sparks flying from a GMC pickup truck in front of him.

“I thought it was chains dragging,” Combs said. “When I saw it sparking a little too much, I was flashing my lights on and off; I was trying to get him to stop before he passed another truck, and then the sparks got even worse.”

Combs’ persistence paid off, as the driver of the pickup truck began to pull over.

“I knew something was gonna happen,” Combs said.

Just as the truck started to stop, its right front wheel detached completely. Fortunately, the driver managed to bring the truck to the side of the road safely.

“Sparks went everywhere,” Combs said. “It went from a few sparks to, when it hit the ground, it was like somebody set a fire underneath it.”

A Commitment to Safety

Combs, a seasoned professional with 16 years of driving experience, immediately pulled over to check on the driver and two passengers. He ensured they were unharmed and verified that the vehicle had not caught fire.

“I’m always gonna stop,” Combs said, emphasizing his dedication to safety and helping others whenever needed.

Recognizing Exceptional Drivers

The TCA Highway Angel program honors drivers like Stan Combs, who go above and beyond to ensure the safety of others on the road. His alertness and willingness to act demonstrate the best qualities of professional truck drivers.

For more incredible stories of TCA Highway Angels, click here.

Source: The Trucker
Image Source: TCA

The post Trucker Receives TCA Highway Angel Recognition for Alerting Driver to Danger appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has begun a project to implement mile-based exit numbers on I-81, I-690, and State Route 481 in Cortland, Oswego, and Onondaga counties. This project involves replacing the old sequential exit numbers with new signs that reflect the mileage of each exit along the highway.

This change aims to provide drivers with a clearer idea of how far they need to travel to reach their exits, thereby improving traffic management, safety, and emergency response, according to NYSDOT.

The Central New York area is the first region in Upstate New York to adopt these mile-based exit numbers on I-81. Eventually, all exit signs along the interstate, from Pennsylvania to Canada, will be updated to this new system.

The new exit numbers for I-81 will indicate the distance in miles from south to north, starting at the Pennsylvania border and ending at the Canadian border. Similarly, I-690’s new exit numbers will reflect the distance in miles from west to east, beginning at the New York State Thruway. For State Route 481, the exit numbers will show the distance in miles from south to north, starting at I-481 (future I-81).

The entire project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

The updated mile-based exit numbers will be placed on the upper part of the existing signs. To minimize confusion, the old sequential exit numbers will be shown on lower panels of the signs for a transitional period. For instance, the current Exit 9 (Marathon) on I-81 will become Exit 38, as it is approximately 38 miles north of the Pennsylvania border.

Drivers should expect some short-term lane closures while the new signs are being installed, which may cause travel delays. Motorists are advised to allow extra time for their journeys.

Source: Truckers News

The post New York Adopts Mile-Based Exit Numbering for Interstate 81 appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.