Maine troopers target unsafe car behavior around trucks in high-traffic areas
Maine State Troopers recently conducted enforcement details aimed at passenger-vehicle behavior around commercial trucks, focusing on areas with consistently heavy truck traffic: Bangor, Winthrop, and the greater Portland region.
Troopers said the effort is being led by the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU) and is intentionally centered on four-wheelers rather than truck drivers. The reason, according to the agency, is that 65% of fatal commercial vehicle crashes in 2025 were attributed to passenger cars. Troopers said the strategy is intended to reduce risk and improve overall traffic safety.
For working drivers, the focus reflects a reality seen every day on the road: the actions of nearby cars can quickly turn routine driving into a high-risk situation, especially in congested corridors where merging, lane changes, and speed differences are constant.
Troopers also highlighted the training background for Maine State Troopers. Recruits complete an 18-week Basic Law Enforcement training period at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro. Troopers said entrance standards are among the toughest in the country, and training includes instruction in firearms, Constitutional law, patrol procedures, criminal behavior, high-speed pursuit, and other criminal justice and social science courses.
The enforcement work in Bangor, Winthrop, and greater Portland was selected based on the volume of truck traffic in those areas, tying the operation directly to locations where commercial drivers spend significant time operating in close quarters with passenger vehicles.