Uniontown, PA – Dozens of students from across PennDOT District 12 learned firsthand about the importance of driving safely around large trucks during a Youth Traffic Safety Council meeting at the PennDOT Washington County Maintenance Office today.
PennDOT District 12 partnered with the Pennsylvania State Police, Highway Safety Network, and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute to provide students with practical roadway safety education, including an opportunity to experience the limitations of a tractor-trailer driver’s visibility.
The program featured Virginia Tech’s Sharing the Road truck program, which helped show why drivers should avoid lingering alongside large trucks, maintain a safe following distance, and use caution when passing or merging near heavy trucks.
According to PennDOT data, there were 436 crashes involving heavy trucks in District 12 in 2025, which resulted in 13 fatalities and 20 serious injuries.
“It’s important for young drivers to understand that sharing the road means understanding the challenges other drivers face, too,” said PennDOT Safety Press Officer Emily Stambaugh. “Experiencing a truck driver’s limited visibility firsthand can help students recognize the dangerous situations and make safer decisions when driving near large trucks.”
Pennsylvania State Police also participated in the meeting, providing students with information on law enforcement’s role in highway safety and the importance of understanding what to expect during a traffic stop.
“Educating young drivers about traffic laws and safe driving practices is an important part of preventing crashes and keeping our roadways safe,” said Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Kalee Barnhart. “By giving students the opportunity to ask questions and learn directly from law enforcement, we can help them better understand their responsibilities behind the wheel and the importance of making safe decisions every time they drive.”
The event was held in partnership with the Highway Safety Network as part of ongoing efforts to engage teens in traffic safety education and encourage responsible driving behaviors.
For more information on young driver safety, visit www.pa.gov/dotsafety.
Travelers can check conditions on major roads by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects. Subscribe to PennDOT news and find transportation results in Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties at www.pa.gov/DOTdistrict12.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Stambaugh, emstambaug@pa.gov or 724-425-3018
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