A New York State Police officer was among those injured in a 21-vehicle pileup on the Thruway. (NYSP photo)The tractor-trailer ban on most New York interstates, which has been in effect since Tuesday night due to poor road conditions from a winter storm, was mostly lifted Friday morning, but not before New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo admonished truckers who violated the order, particularly due to a 21-car pileup on the state’s Thruway on Wednesday.
The ban is still in effect Friday morning for I-81 from the Canadian Border to Route 104.
Some of the truck drivers violating the order were involved in a 21-vehicle pileup Wednesday afternoon on the New York State Thruway that resulted in a New York state trooper sustaining injuries. After the accident, which involved five tractor-trailers, Cuomo said violators would receive a $450 fine, two points on their license and possibly face criminal charges.
The Trucking Association of New York warned drivers Thursday that Cuomo was asking law enforcement to ramp up enforcement as a result of the crash.
“As a result of [Wednesday’s] multi-vehicle accident, which involved five tractor-trailers on a restricted portion of the Thruway, Gov. (Andrew) Cuomo has instructed state police to step up enforcement,” the group said in a Facebook post. “Drivers caught operating on restricted roads will now be issued criminal violations, which may result in a misdemeanor, potentially impacting their CDL.”
Additionally, Cuomo was touring storm-impacted areas in Upstate New York on Thursday and scolding truck drivers for being out on the roads.“This is a disgrace, for these tractor-trailer drivers to be violating the ban and putting people’s lives in danger,” Cuomo said in a press conference Thursday.
A brief video of Cuomo’s tour can be seen below:
Drivers, what have you seen on the roads this week with the bitter cold and snow in some areas? Send any stories and photos you may have from the week to Senior Editor James Jaillet at [email protected].
