Respect the Load. Share the Road. That’s the message you’ll be seeing across Missouri August 5-31 in a statewide campaign urging drivers to drive safely around big rigs. In turn, commercial motor-vehicle (CMV) drivers will be reminded to obey traffic laws, use their seat belts, slow down and pay attention.
According to a news release, there were 146 people killed involving a CMV in 2018, with nearly 80 percent being drivers or passengers of other vehicles.
Commercial motor vehicles make up about 20 percent of Missouri’s interstate traffic, carry goods from coast to coast and are a vital part of our nation’s economy. They also provide critical services many Missourians rely on every day. When crashes involving tractor trailers happen, the disproportionate size of the large truck versus a car means those crashes can often involve serious injuries or worse. Research shows that in the majority of these crashes, drivers of passenger cars unnecessarily endanger themselves by not paying attention and driving aggressively around big rigs. That’s why it’s so important for all motorists to drive safely around big trucks. Respect the load. Share the road.
The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety offers several tips for driving safely around big rigs–
· Don’t cut off large trucks or buses. Make sure you can see the truck’s cab lights in your rear-view mirror before moving back into your original lane;
· Stay out of the “No Zone.” Big rigs have large blind spots on either side and up to 200 feet behind a vehicle. Pass only on the left side;
· Watch your following distance. Keep a safety cushion around trucks. Can you see the truck’s side mirrors? If not, the driver cannot see you.
For more information on the Commercial Motor Vehicle Awareness Campaign, visit www.saveMOlives.com.