September 19, 2024
Transportation safety is important for everyone, including those keeping our country safe.
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute’s Sharing the Road with Trucks program visited Camp Lejeune to engage nearly 500 United States Marines in demonstrations that taught them how to safely drive around large trucks. Also in attendance were the local sheriff’s office, beach patrol, and representatives of the Air Force.
While at Camp Lejeune, the team made sure to catch up with fellow Hokies, Lt. Col. Matthew Newman and Lt. Col. Kirt Samson, both of whom graduated from Virginia Tech in 2006.
“As a proud Virginia Tech graduate, the motto of the University is Ut Prosim (That I may Serve), and I have had the opportunity to turn that motto into a lifestyle, not just for my country, but in service of the community I am honored to be a part of, as a sports official, a mentor and a father.” – Lt.Col. Kirt Samson
Lt. Col. Kirt Samson (left) and Lt. Col. Matthew Newman (right) both graduated from Virginia Tech in 2006.
This event marked the Sharing the Road with Trucks program’s first event at a military base and provided the team with the opportunity to work with Marines of 1st and 2nd Battalions, 6th Regiment and the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group on Camp Lejeune.
To further drive the safety messaging home for the military attendees, joint light tactical vehicles were placed in the semi-truck’s blind spot instead of a regular passenger vehicle. For comparison, a joint light tactical vehicle measures around 22 feet long and eight feet wide while an average midsize car is around 15 feet long and six feet wide. Due to the vast size of a semi-truck’s blind spot, the vehicles were not seen from the driver’s seat.
To further drive the safety messaging home for the military attendees, joint light tactical vehicles were placed in the semi-truck’s blind spot instead of a regular passenger vehicle.
“It was extremely eye-opening for these Marines when sitting in the driver’s seat of the tractor-trailer and not being able to see the two rather large joint light tactical vehicles placed in the passenger side and rear no-zones,” said Scott Tidwell, the program’s team leader. “They can now take this newly acquired knowledge to not only help their fellow brothers-in-arms, but their family and friends to ensure they remain safe on our nation’s roadways.”
Since the program’s inception, the Sharing the Road team has conducted 314 high school events reaching nearly 40,000 teen drivers. Additionally, they have conducted 39 community events with an estimated 10,000 individuals having the opportunity to learn about the program and get inside of a semi-truck.
More information and contact information for scheduling a demonstration can be found the program’s website.
Marines at Camp Lejeune learning how to safely share the road with heavy vehicles.