Approximately 50 people attended the recent Good Neighbor Coalition luncheon at the Jaindl Elementary School.

Hosted by Upper Macungie Township Police Chief Edgardo Colon, with the assistance of Sgt. Cory Reader, the meeting was held to discuss the impact the amount of truck traffic has had on the community.

Truck traffic has steadily increased in the past several years with numerous crashes reported. However, since the inception of the Good Neighbor Coalition, reportable crashes involving commercial motor vehicles have declined.

The impact of recent truck traffic on commercial truck drivers include an unfamiliar environment (roads, restrictions, conditions), potential for fines, impatient motorists, increased accident potential, travel delays, unrealistic expectations at delivery points and frustrations with lack of parking/staging areas.

The impact on the public includes crashes, residential frustration, property damage and overweight and unsafe commercial vehicles.

Commercial vehicle safety issues must be taken into account, including noncompliance with the laws, equipment failures (tires, brakes, etc.), non- or ineffective communication between drivers and delivery points, driver fatigue, distracted drivers (both cars and trucks), logbook (time restraints), GPS dependency (trust but verify) and unsafe parking on roadways.

Because of these problems, the Good Neighbor Coalition has adopted several strategic objectives.

These objectives are intended to make a safer community. Safer roadways, reduction of commercial motor vehicle crashes, injuries, fatalities and property damage, improving officer safety and improving commuter and residential traffic flow, communication and integration. Reduction of complaints and concerns of the township residents, identification and correction of adverse driver behavior and reduction in the disruption of the area commerce are among the objectives of the coalition.

So far presentations of this program have been given to various groups. Residents, businesses, the trucking industry, elected officials, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and the media have been shown the plan.

Installation of a Commercial Vehicle Inspection area at Dart Drive, continued work with the township engineering firm and the township’s Bureau of Public Works regarding signage and the truck restriction map, installation of approximately 130 new signs in the township and more officers have all occurred due to the Good Neighbor Coalition program.