COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Safety and traffic enforcement is the main focus of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Part of that includes making sure commercial vehicles are up to par with safety standards and regulations. Troopers within the commercial enforcement division are also urging other drivers to be mindful of sharing the road with big trucks, buses and other large vehicles. OSHP gave NBC4 an inside look on how the department inspects commercial vehicles and a ride along the patrol's own semi-truck to see civilian driver violations from their vantage point. OSHP troopers and motor carrier inspectors have inspected more than 122,000 commercial vehicles since 2023. More Ohio schools using AI gun detection software monitored by military veterans "We're looking for equipment violations because some of those could lead to a potential multi fatal accident," Lt. Isaac Saunders said. Lt. Saunders, who works in the Columbus District Licensing & Commercial Standards Division of OSHP, explained there are a variety of factors that make up the inspection including the external check. The inspector checks things like brakes, lights, and tires to make sure the vehicle is safe for the roadways. The Ohio Patrol even has a commercial vehicle of their own, a semi-truck. "It's marked," Saunders said. "It's just like a real patrol car going down the road." Lt. Saunders said while the OSHP commercial vehicle's primary use is for recruitment, it can be used for enforcement with the ability to track speeds using an external radar on the outside of the truck. "Seeing violations and being able to call those violations off that's out in front of the truck or behind to make that traffic stop for enforcement," Saunders said. Since 2023, there's been 31,592 crashes involving commercial vehicles on Ohio roadways. The Ohio Patrol said many of those accidents are not caused by the driver of a commercial vehicle — which could weigh up to 80-thousand pounds — but rather by another driver's error, oftentimes because of distracted driving. ‘Scabby the Rat’ spotted at Columbus airport, sparks curiosity and commentary Lt. Saunders says it takes "just a fraction of a second" when a driver takes their eyes off the road to cause a dangerous situation. In November 2023, we saw just how devastating distracted driving can be here in Central Ohio. Troopers said a man driving a semi slammed into the back of a SUV and a charter bus on I-70 killing six people, including three members of the Tuscarawas Valley marching band. While riding in an Ohio Patrol semi-truck, NBC4 got to see firsthand people on the road who were on their phones. That included commercial drivers and civilian drivers, all distracted putting themselves and those around them in danger. "Put the phones down, concentrate on the road and then make it home safely to your family," Saunders said.