Imagine that you have just received an email from the IRS. It advises you that they are so proud to notify you that everyone that is in downtown Richmond during the days of June 5-7,  will be able to participate in a tax audit for your 2011 return.

I am going to take a guess that downtown Richmond would be a ghost town for those 72 hours. No matter how honest you have been, you have no desire to be a part of the joy of an audit.

An event called Roadcheck started on Tuesday and finishes up at midnight on Thursday. During that time, there are more roadside inspectors that are looking “for and at” trucks on the interstate highways,  to insure that they are safe and legal.

On its face, that sounds like a good safety idea. Curious to me is that the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance would announce the increased highway inspections, approximately three months in advance. That way, all drivers that know that they are driving unsafe rigs or running illegally, can decide to take those three days as vacation.

Following June 7, these same inspectors are known to take a day off after this focused big push. So, statistically you can expect that there will be less trucks on the highway for those 72 hours;  Then, the dangerous trucks jump back on the roadway and can make up for lost time.

Meanwhile, the trucking industry can then brag about safety. 32,000 trucking fatalities in 2011 shows a 1.7% decrease or that 4 out of 5 trucks are traveling safe on the road, as though this is progress. Then, in response to “Roadcheck”,  the American Truck Association even congratulates the inspectors for the service that they do. Almost like “Thank you IRS,  for coming to Richmond”.

If you are on the highway at the end of the week,  just look around and see if you notice more tractor trailers than normal. My real complaint is that safety inspections should be unannounced… not announced.

For pic o’ day I thought I would stay in topic. If they ignore real safety issues or don’t see them, do these organizations really think that problems aren’t still out there?

Please click the Facebook “Share” button below this post to let others know you enjoyed reading it. Thanks!