June is National Safety Month. Road Safety Tips as More Travelers Hit the Roads this Summer.

 As America opens up and residents are tired of being housebound, the number of cars on the road will continue to increase. With domestic travel expected to rise during the summer months, National Safety Month, recognized each June, serves as a timely reminder about the importance of road safety when traveling the roads with trucks.

Over the past year, truck drivers on the frontlines of the pandemic have adapted to new safety protocols, such as sanitizing their steering wheels and practicing social distancing measures at drop-offs, while delivering everything we have relied on throughout this public health crisis. A trucker’s day-to-day may look a little different while delivering during the pandemic, but a driver’s commitment to health and personal safety remained a top priority. That’s because America’s truck drivers recognize the responsibility they have while sharing the road with the individuals and families driving alongside them, as well as to their families back at home.

Safety is a top priority for our drivers and trucking companies. That is why the industry celebrates the personal safety record of drivers. For example, in March 2021, XPO Logistics Inc. honored drivers who accumulated record numbers of accident-free miles. Perdue Farms celebrated one of their truck drivers, Alvin Smith, for achieving 4 million accident-free miles in May 2021. We also recognize road safety leaders through award events, including ATA’s National Truck Driving Championships, Pilot Flying J’s Road Warrior program and the Truckload Carriers Association’s Fleet Safety Awards.

During National Safety Month, it’s an ideal time for the trucking industry to remind the motoring public how to make the roads safer for all of us this summer and year-round. Here are some helpful tips for car drivers sharing the road with trucks this summer:

· Watch out for blind spots. It’s important to remember to check your blind spots before maneuvering and for cars to avoid sitting in blind spots. Remember, if you can’t see the trucks’ mirrors, they can’t see you.

· Maintain a safe distance. Trucks take a longer time than cars to slow down and it’s important to maintain a safe following distance in order to avoid an accident. Passenger cars are much smaller and are able to maneuver around trucks quickly. However, cars should leave enough space when behind a truck to avoid their blind spot or when passing a truck.

· Be aware of wide turns. Trucks need extra space when turning. Passenger cars need to be aware of the trucks’ path and not attempt to squeeze in between the truck and the curb. Cars must also remember not to stop too far into the intersection as it could prevent trucks from making the wide turn they need.

· When in doubt, slow down. In tough weather, changing road conditions, or poor visibility, it’s better to slow down to avoid an accident. It’s easy for passenger vehicles to want to speed around trucks on the road, but this can lead to blind spot issues, loss of control, or collisions.

Professional truck drivers Russell Simpson and Clarence Jenkins also shared road safety tips during an interview with a TV station in West Virginia. You can watch the segment here.

To read more safety tips on sharing the road with large trucks from ATA’s Share the Road program, click here.