Jul 1, 2005 12:00 PM

The Motor Freight Carriers Association (MFCA) and Nationwide Insurance have joined forces to kick off a new Smart Driver campaign to improve safety and reduce accidents on Ohio's highways.

As part of the United States Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations (FMCSA) “Share the Road Safely” program, MFCA is underscoring the DOT'S effort to improve the safety knowledge of all motorists, to minimize the likelihood of a clash with a large truck, and to reduce the consequences of those that do occur.

Joining MFCA and Nationwide Insurance in their drive was Ken Morckel, director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety; Larry Davis, president of the Ohio Trucking Association; Keith Willoughby, state manager for FMCSA; and Mark Spencer, a professional truck driver with Roadway Express.

Ohio ranks in the top five throughout the United States in fatal multiple-vehicle crashes involving trucks.

Nationwide Insurance will distribute highway safety brochures to the motorists that they insure at various Nationwide Claim Centers throughout Ohio. A number of motorists also will receive a Smart Driver brochure when they receive their regular billing statement.