Sharing the Road with Large Trucks

Sharing the RoadwithLarge Trucks New York State Motor Truck Association

Did you know? • In New York State, trucks transport nearly 90 percent of total manufactured tonnage in the state. • Over 89 percent of New York’s communities depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods. • Life as we know it would come to a standstill without trucks. The Industry is committed to safety: • At the national level, the large truck fatal crash rate for 2008 was 1.64 fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles of travel (VMT). • This rate is at its lowest point since the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) began keeping these records. Since 1975 this rate has dropped 64 percent. The trucking industry is committed to sharing the road safely with all vehicles. • The Share the Road program teaches car drivers about truck blind spots, stopping distances and safe merging around large trucks, all designed to reduce the number of car-truck accidents.

Quiz Time! • Blind spots around trucks are the same as blind spots in cars. a) True b) False

Quiz Time! • Blind spots around trucks are the same as blind spots in cars. a) True b) False Blind spots around trucks are much larger and a car can completely disappear from a truck driver’s view.

Quiz Time! 2. Where is the largest blind spot around a truck? a) Front b) Rear c) Driver Side d) Passenger Side

Quiz Time! 2. Where is the largest blind spot around a truck? a) Front b) Rear c) Driver Side d) Passenger Side The passenger side is the largest blind spot around a truck. The passenger side blind spot extends the length of the trailer and extends three lanes out.

Quiz Time! • Big trucks have more tires and bigger brakes so they can stop faster than smaller vehicles. a) True b) False

Quiz Time! • Big trucks have more tires and bigger brakes so they can stop faster than smaller vehicles. a) True b) False It takes the length of a football field including both end zones for a fully loaded tractor trailer to stop.

Quiz Time! • How far should a car stay behind a truck when the truck is traveling at highway speeds? a) 10 – 15 car lengths b) 10 seconds c) 20-25 car lengths d) 30 seconds

Quiz Time! • How far should a car stay behind a truck when the truck is traveling at highway speeds? a) 10 – 15 car lengths b) 10 seconds c) 20-25 car lengths d) 30 seconds Allow yourself enough room to see the truck driver’s face in his/her mirrors and to be able to react if you need to make a quick lane change due to a hazard in the road.

Quiz Time! • When making a right turn, what may the truck driver do first? a) Back up to position the truck b) Swing left first c) Make a quick right turn d) None of the above

Quiz Time! • When making a right turn, what may the truck driver do first? a) Back up to position the truck b) Swing left first c) Make a quick right turn d) None of the above Allow trucks adequate space to maneuver. They make wide turns at intersections and require additional space.

Quiz Time! • What percentage of car-truck fatalities are unintentionally caused by the car driver? a) 25% b) 50% c) 75% d) 100%

Quiz Time! • What percentage of car-truck fatalities are unintentionally caused by the car driver? a) 25% b) 50% c) 75% d) 100% In most cases it is because the car driver does not know about a truck’s blind spots.

Quiz Time! • If you need to pass a truck, a) Pass the truck on the passenger side b) Pass the truck on the driver side c) Pass the truck on the passenger side and don’t linger d) Pass the truck on the driver side and don’t linger

Quiz Time! • If you need to pass a truck, a) Pass the truck on the passenger side b) Pass the truck on the driver side c) Pass the truck on the passenger side and don’t linger d) Pass the truck on the driver side and don’t linger Pass the truck as expediently as possible. A truck’s blind spot on the passenger side runs the length of the trailer and extends three lanes out. The driver side blind spot is smaller.

Quiz Time! • What should you always do before putting your car in drive? a) Buckle your safety belt b) Check your tires c) Check your lights d) Be rested e) All of the above

The Blind Spots

Front Blind Spot • A truck cannot see a vehicle immediately in front of it’s grill. • More importantly, it takes a truck a lot longer to stop than a car. • It takes a fully loaded tractor-trailer more than 300 feet to come to a complete stop. That’s the length of a football field including both end-zones. • Truck drivers try to keep this distance, you need to remember to avoid this space.

Front Blind Spot (cont.) • You should leave a “safety cushion” in front of the tractor-trailer before changing lanes. The safety cushion to pass should be at least 4 car lengths. • When passing a truck, be sure you can see both of the truck’s headlights in your rearview mirror before blending back into the lane. • A fully loaded tractor-trailer weighs 80,000 pounds. That’s the equivalent to the force of 25 cars. • Your car weighs around 2,000 pounds.

Right Blind Spot • Passenger side is the “blind side”. • Blind spot extends out three lanes and the length of the trailer.

Right Blind Spot (cont.) • Don’t linger on this side; keep moving if possible. • If traffic causes you to be in this area, make sure your headlights are on and watch for the driver’s face in the mirror. • While many trucks are equipped with technology to alert the truck driver if there is a vehicle in their blind spot, not all trucks have this equipment. Those that are equipped with this technology use it as a secondary method for safety and do not rely solely on the technology. They use their eyes, ears and the skills they were trained with to keep themselves and other motorists safe on the road.

Rear Blind Spot • The rear blind spot extends behind the truck more than the length of an additional trailer.

Rear Blind Spot (cont.) • To be safe, you should leave 20-25 car lengths between the rear of the trailer and your vehicle. • You should be able to see the driver’s side mirror when following a tractor-trailer. • Your visibility is reduced when following too closely to the tractor-trailer: you can’t see around the truck and the driver can’t see you. • When you tailgate a truck, you can't react to upcoming road conditions; you can only react to the back of the truck and often times that's too late.

Left Blind Spot • The left blind spot is smaller than the right blind spot. • A truck’s left blind spot extends over the left shoulder of the truck driver, where the trailer blocks his or her view. • An entire car can disappear from view in this blind spot.

Left Blind Spot (cont.) • If you need to pass a truck, pass on the driver’s side. • Look for the driver’s face (eyes) in the mirror. • Make sure your lights are on at all times to help other drivers see you.

Some Key Points: • Don’t cut in front of a truck • Don’t linger alongside of a truck • Pass quickly to resume visibility • Change lanes only when you can see both of the truck’s headlights in your rearview mirror. • Never pass on the passenger side of a truck • Steer clear of the front and rear blind spots. • If you are following a truck and you cannot see the driver’s face in the truck’s side mirror, the truck driver cannot see you.

Some Other Safety Recommendations: • Always buckle up. • Check your vehicle before taking it on the road (tires, lights, blinkers, etc.). • Know where you are going. Map out your route before driving. • Don’t speed, run red lights or stop signs. • Don’t make frequent lane changes or pull out in front of other vehicles. • Pay attention- be aware of everyday distractions. • Don’t text and drive!!

Additional resources: • www.sharetheroadsafely.org • www.atastr.org • New York State Motor Truck Association • www.nytrucks.org • (518) 458-9696

Questions?

Sharing the Road with Large Trucks