SHARING THE ROAD

Trucks are important to the South African economy. They transport products that are critical to life - and those that make life a lot more comfortable. However, as a motorist, sharing the road with large trucks can make you feel very uncomfortable. Smart Drivers: Do your part to be safe. Large trucks do not operate like cars. They are so large that accelerating, slowing down and stopping take more time and more space than any other vehicle on the road. They have large blind spots and make wide turns. If they come upon an unexpected traffic situation, there may not be enough room for them to avoid a collision. Protect yourself and your passengers by learning how to share the road safely with large vehicles. 5 Ways to Share the Road Safely with Trucks. Don't Cut In Front of Trucks. Trucks leave extra room behind the vehicles they follow because it can take them twice as long to stop. If you move into that space and have to brake suddenly, you decrease the truck's available stopping distance placing you and your passengers in danger. Anticipate the flow of traffic before pulling in front of trucks. Trucks are not equipped with the same type of energy-absorbing bumpers as cars. When a car is hit from behind by a truck the results are too often deadly.

Required Stopping Distance - meters Speed km/h 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 Small Car 60 78 99 121 146 174 203 235 269 Medium Car 66 86 109 135 163 193 227 263 301 Large Car 77 101 129 159 193 230 271 314 361 Heavy Vehicle 116 154 197 246 300 359 424 495 570

*Table from www.arrivealive.co.za Stay Out of the Blind Spots Truck drivers have huge blind spots around the front, back and sides of the truck. Because of a truck's size, truck drivers must react faster than car drivers in emergency situations. If faced with a potential front-end collision, the truck driver may turn into your lane not knowing you are there.

Avoid Tailgating. Large trucks are almost as wide as your lane of travel. Driving too close behind one prevents you from reacting to changing traffic conditions. If you are too close to the rear of a truck and there is a slow down on the highway, or debris in the road you won't notice it until there is a braking emergency. If there is a problem ahead, your first hint will be the truck's brake lights. But if you happen to be distracted or fatigued, you may not be able to react in time. If you hit the rear of a truck you'll quickly learn that trucks are unforgiving. There are no impact-absorbing bumpers, and the metal bumpers they have may not align with yours. So be smart and give yourself plenty of room. Wear Your Seat Belt. Buckling your seat belt is the single most important thing you can do to save your life in a crash. A seat belt will keep you in your seat and help you maintain control of your vehicle. The safest place for kids is in the backseat, buckled up or in a car seat. Be safe and always buckle up! Beware of Highway Shoulders. A large number of people died or were injured in highway shoulder collisions last year. If you break down or pull over on the highway shoulder, it is important to understand the unsafe position you and your passengers are in. When a parked vehicle on a highway shoulder is struck by a moving car, the damage suffered by both vehicles is severe. When the moving vehicle is a truck, weighing as much as 25 cars, the result is tragic. Avoid highway shoulders whenever possible. Try to exit from the highway, even if it costs you a tire or rim. If you cannot exit, consider whether you are safer inside or away from the vehicle. Your decision could save your life. PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS: PLEASE HELP US ...Share the Road Safely. As a professional driver, you may have millions of kilometers of driving experience. Often you may think you are sharing the road with 4-wheel vehicle drivers who seem to have no driving experience at all. Many commercial motor vehicle crashes occur due to errors in judgment by car drivers operating around large trucks. Unfortunately, when these crashes occur they reflect poorly on the road freight industry regardless of who caused the collision. Consider these safety practices when you're out on the road. Please take care of yourself Get plenty of rest before driving. Look after your health, eat well and stay fit. Driver fatigue and lack of attention can significantly increase your risk of a crash. Stay healthy, sober and well rested, or don't drive! Always maintain your vehicle Inspect your vehicle before each trip, and check your brakes and lights regularly.

Brake defects are the most frequently cited out-of-service inspection violation. Learn how to inspect your brakes, identify safety defects, and get them repaired before risking your life, and others, on the highway. Be aware of your blind spots Other drivers may not be aware of the size of your blind spots. One-third of all crashes between large trucks and cars take place in the blind spot areas around a truck. Adjust your mirrors and be vigilant in watching out for other vehicles in the blind spots. Please slow down in work zones Watch out for highway construction. Stay alert. Many fatal work zone crashes involve large trucks. Most of these crashes occur during the day. Take your time going through work zones, reduce your speed, and expect the unexpected. Always keep your distance Always leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you. In rear-end collisions, if you hit someone from behind, you are considered "at fault . Large trucks, given their mass, have much greater stopping distances than 4-wheelers. Take advantage of your driving height, and anticipate hard braking situations. Please fasten your seatbelt If you are in a crash, a seat belt will save your life and that of others. It will keep you in your seat and allow for you to maintain control of your truck. Increasing seat belt use is still the single most effective thing we can do to save lives and reduce injures on our roadways. Always drive defensively Avoid aggressive drivers and maintain a safe speed. Two-thirds of all traffic fatalities may be caused by aggressive driving behaviors. Keep your distance and maintain a safe speed. The only thing excessive speed increases is your chance for a crash.