Don’t ride beside an 18-wheeler; they can’t see you, and something could fly off their truck. Don’t cut off an 18-wheeler; wait until you see both headlights in your rearview mirror before moving over because they can’t stop on a dime. These are just a couple of the lessons I’ve learned over the years from my mother, the passenger-seat driver.
Annoying as it may have been, I’m glad I was taught how to move safely around large trucks – knowledge that, if widespread, could save many lives. I’ve said this before, but it’s worth saying again: drivers of passenger cars need to be educated about how to operate vehicles alongside large trucks.
That’s why the Florida Trucking Association this week launched its “Share the Road” campaign. The series of public service announcements shared via YouTube aims to educate drivers of all vehicles on how to interact safely and improve driving behavior, particularly around large trucks and buses that have operating limitations. “By raising awareness and promoting education, we can create a culture of mutual respect and understanding on our roads,” said FTA President and CEO Alix Miller. “Our Florida Road Team and the 'Share the Road' campaign is a crucial step toward achieving this goal, and we are proud to share it with the motoring public.”
[RELATED: Survey reveals 56% of passenger car drivers feel unsafe driving beside a commercial truck]
FTA’s presentations are usually delivered to drivers education and physical education classes at Florida high schools but are also made to trucking companies, professional groups, church groups, “Touch-a-Truck” events, press conferences and association events statewide.
These PSAs will be shared across various media platforms. The PSAs include eight videos, led by members of the FTA Road Team, that address blind spots, passing, stopping distance and more.
The first video educates passenger vehicle drivers about blind spots or “No Zones” at the front, rear and sides of a large truck. If you can’t see the driver in the truck’s side mirror, the driver can’t see you. And just as my mother said, the FTA advises drivers not to linger alongside a truck but to pass quickly in its “Pass Safely” video, which also address the headlights in the rearview mirror trick for changing lanes and a note to pass only in the left lane and never when going downhill when a truck picks up speed.
