Yesterday marked the beginning of Canada Road Safety Week, a national campaign designed to increase public compliance with and awareness of safe driving measures and, ultimately, to save lives. The Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA) is taking the opportunity to remind drivers of safe driving practices for sharing the road with trucks.

Professional truck drivers share their workplace with thousands of motorists, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The long weekend coming up kicks off a season of trips to the lake, cabins, and road trips for Manitoban families.

The MTA has provided the following safety tips for sharing the road safely with commercial drivers:

Avoid blind spots: front, sides and rear

Be aware of a truck’s blind spots or “no zones”. They are both sides, directly behind and in front of the truck. If you can’t see the truck driver in his or her mirrors, then the truck driver can’t see you. Typically, truck drivers can’t see anything closer than 30 feet and sometimes up to 200 feet behind the trailer. Stay 250 feet back and don’t ride directly in front of a truck. (See attachment).

Pass with care

Remember those blind spots and pass from where the driver can see you, not from directly behind the truck. Make sure it’s safe to pass. If you’re not sure, don’t pass. Remember, the longer the truck is, the more distance you need to pass. Depending on trailer length – from 40 to 53 feet – the entire truck may be more than the 70 feet long. Long Combination Vehicles (LCV’s) exceed over 100 feet long. When you’re sure it’s safe, signal, move into the passing lane, and pass promptly (but safely). Stay as far to the left as is safe. This helps reduce the effect of air turbulence on your vehicle, and gives you a margin of safety if the truck moves outside of its lane while you pass.

Don’t cut in front

Don’t cut in front of trucks, they need a lot more time and space to stop than cars. Loaded trucks can weigh 80,000 lbs. and take the length of a football field to stop. Stay 4 to 5 car lengths in front of trucks.

Don’t cross behind a backing truck

Whether driving or walking, never cross behind a truck that is backing up. Truck drivers have no rear-view mirror and may not see you behind them.

Beware of their right hand turns

At intersections, stay behind the white lines so trucks can safely complete their turns. Do not get between the truck and the curb when the truck is making a right turn.

Enter the highway safely

On highway entrance ramps, remember highway traffic has the right of way; maintain proper speed and use smooth merging techniques. Avoid slowing down in front of a truck at a ramp and don’t cut in front of trucks and force them to attempt a sudden stop – they could jackknife.

Canada Road Safety Week, which is held May 18-24, encourages drivers to demonstrate safe driving techniques that reduce risks for drivers, passengers and other road users such as sober and alert driving, seat belt use, and refraining from all aspects of aggressive driving such as speeding. All enforcement agencies across the country have been invited to participate; RCMP in “D” Division will be present at locations throughout Manitoba.

The Manitoba Trucking Association exists to develop and maintain a safe and healthy business environment for our industry members.

For more information contact:

Geoff Sine

General Manager

Phone: (204) 632-6600

E-mail: gsine@trucking.mb.ca