Pa. Turnpike to Host 'Safety Break' at Allentown, Sideling Hill Plazas

Trucking Industry to Offer Tips on 'Sharing the Road'

HARRISBURG, PA (08/12/2010)(readMedia)-- In a continuing effort to promote highway safety, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is conducting "Safety Break" events at two of its busiest travel plazas tomorrow. The turnpike will host events on August 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Allentown Service Plaza on the Northeastern Extension and the Sideling Hill Service Plaza on the east-west mainline.

The theme for the Safety Break events is watching your blind spots – the No Zone. Safety specialists will show turnpike motorists that there are blind spots for both cars and trucks where the driver can't see the other vehicle beside or behind them. Representatives of the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association will provide blind spot trailers and drivers, while the American Trucking Association will send their America's Road Team and Share the Road Truck.

"Visitors will be able to see illustrations of the blind spots and sit in a truck to gain a commercial driver's perspective" said Turnpike Manager of Customer Safety Joseph L. Rispoli. "It is important for car drivers to understand that large trucks have blind spots or No Zones around the front, back and sides of the truck that make it difficult for the truck driver to see them. Sharing the road with larger vehicles can be dangerous if you are not aware of their limitations."

Turnpike representatives will available to answer questions and provide information on various Turnpike services like E-ZPass, and the Turnpike Roadway Information Program (TRIP) and the "Preferred Traveler" program that enable motorists to get real-time travel information via text message, email, web or phone.

The Allentown Service Plaza is located between the Quakertown (#44) and Lehigh Valley (#56) exits on I-476 (Northeastern Extension) and the Sideling Hill Service Plaza is located between the Fort Littleton (#180) and Breezewood (#161) exits on I-76 (mainline Turnpike). The two travel plazas, which were newly renovated in 2008, are accessible to traffic from both directions.