Virginia Tech alumni to host truck safety event in Rehoboth

The First State Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association will host the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute’s Sharing the Road with Trucks program at Rehoboth Ale House on the Mile at 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15. The event will give attendees a chance to learn key strategies for safely sharing the road with tractor-trailers. Later, they’ll be able to enjoy Virginia Tech football in a fun environment.

The VTTI’s program is an evidence-based community outreach program that conducts hands-on safety demonstrations that teach key strategies for safely interacting with tractor-trailers and other large trucks when encountering them on roadways. The program not only teaches the key strategies but also provides participants with a firsthand opportunity to see a tractor-trailer up close and experience the large blind spots from the truck driver’s seat. The initiative also includes educational handouts, bookmarks and stickers. The program is in its eighth year and has been active in Delaware for six years. The program has had several grants with the Delaware Department of Transportation, and conducts about 40 high school events and six to eight community events every year in Delaware.

“We can’t get away from them,” said Program Team Leader Scott Tidwell. “They haul all of our commodities, so we see them every day, and it’s to help everybody be safe. While people are quick to blame the truck driver, all the data and the police reports show that almost 80% of incidents between a passenger vehicle and a large truck, it’s actually the fault of the passenger driver. There are five basic strategies we teach, and participants will have the opportunity to walk around the truck and get in that driver’s seat and see firsthand what the truck drivers can and cannot see out on the highway.”

The alumni association chapter’s Vice President Cynthia Johnson was at the Delaware State Fair this past summer and saw the VTTI’s Sharing the Road with Trucks program’s truck and got inspired. Having already utilized Rehoboth Ale House, owned by Virginia Tech graduate Adam Newman, for Hokie-related events, Johnson thought it would be a great idea to bring the truck to Rehoboth Ale House for community awareness regarding roadway safety in relation to trucks. Plus, this will expose high school students, who are learning to drive and will truly benefit from this program, to the opportunities available at Virginia Tech University as they pursue their future endeavors.

“We are doing a three-pronged approach,” said Johnson. “The alumni, the watch party and introducing the truck to the local community.”

Newman is proud to provide a Virginia Tech-enthusiastic environment to the local community, with the help of the First State Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. He is also excited to present this specific community awareness event to the public. He feels this education is especially important and valuable to the area’s residents. 

“Being a longtime Hokie fan and alumnus, when I started owning restaurants, I always wanted to have a watch party for Virginia Tech football games,” said Newman. “There wasn’t a huge collection of a community, or at least an organization that I ever really touched based with. And then Cynthia walked in the door. Plus, I think the connection with Scott is awesome, because Route 1 is a high-traffic area down by us, but also once you get past Five Points and all the way up, you’re always dealing with tractor-trailers and accidents. This is just a great connection to be a part of and just bring some awareness. Plus, we can get some Hokies together, or not even just Hokies, the education of what Scott’s bringing is awesome.” 

Kickoff for the football game is at 7:30 p.m.

For more information about VTTI’s Sharing the Road with Trucks program, go to cmvroadsharing.org.

For more information about the First State Chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, go to chapters.alumni.vt.edu/first-state.html.