At OTA, we believe all road users are partners in safety whether they
are behind the wheel of a truck, riding a motorcycle, bicycle or roller
blades or even a pedestrian waiting to cross at the lights. We invite
you to join us and our team of road safety ambassadors, the OTA Road
Knights, in making Ontario's roadways as safe as they can be by
reviewing the safety tips located here. The safety tips offered below
apply to all road users -- operators of bicycles, cars, moped,
motorcycles and so on,
Ontario's trucking industry is proud of its remarkable safety record.
Accident statistics released by the Ministry of Transportation over the
past decade have repeatedly shown trucks to be involved in a very small
percentage of road accidents. However, at OTA, we believe even one
collision is too many.
Studies of collisions between trucks and other road users have revealed
that increased knowledge by all motorists of the unique handling
abilities of large commercial vehicles could improve road safety.
Stay Visible When Behind a Truck
When you come to a stop behind a truck, keep to the left of your lane
so the driver can see you in his side mirror. Remember if you can't see
the truck driver in one of his mirrors he/she probably can't see
you.
Roll Back
Always leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the truck to
prevent roll back incidents which can happen when a truck driver is
forced to stop on an upgrade. As the truck driver takes his foot off the
brake and releases the clutch pedal, the truck may roll back a few feet.
Remember he may have a very heavy load and has many gears to shift to
get going.
Avoid Tailgating
Never tailgate, particularly trucks. The truck's size will almost
totally block your view and you will have to rely on his brake lights
for a signal that something is going on in front. At the same time you
will be in one of the truck driver's blind spots.
Stopping Distances
Never pull in front of a truck without leaving adequate room. Between
your vehicle and the front of the truck. Trucks can't stop on a dime and
you might be the cause of a jackknife or a major crash.
Passing Trucks
The same rules apply for passing a truck as for passing a car. The
first step in a safe pass is to check the traffic front and rear. Don't
pull out if you're being overtaken by traffic from behind or if there is
other traffic approaching.
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Once you have decided to pass and see that the way is clear --
don't hesitate. Declare your intention to pass and follow through as
quickly and safely as possible.
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Before re-entering the lane in which the truck is traveling, wait
until you see both of the trucks headlights in your rear-view mirror.
This will ensure you are an adequate distance from the truck.
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Lastly, be sure you maintain your speed when you are in front of a
truck. Truck drivers work hard to get up to normal highway speeds,
sometimes shifting through as many as 15 gears. For this reason trucks
take longer to get up to highway speed and must work harder to maintain
their speed.
Right-hand Turns
Always pay close attention to truck turn signals. Many car drivers do
not realize that a truck approaching an intersection to make a right
turn may move to the left to avoid running the trailer onto the curb. As
the truck moves left, a narrow, temporary lane is created to its right.
At this point, the driver of a car may move up on the right side of the
truck and become vulnerable to a "squeeze" when the truck swings into
its right turn.
Keep the Centre Lane Open
The centre lane is the trucker's passing lane. On many major roadways
transport trucks are forbidden from using the high speed (far left)
lane. That means they rely on the centre lane as their passing lane. If
you travel in the centre lane be sure you are traveling at the posted
speed limit.
Keep Your Distance
Keep a large space cushion around your car -- increase your space
cushion even more when near large vehicles like trucks and buses. They
need extra space and time to manoeuvre and stop.
Watch Out For Blindspots
Any area where a vehicle's visibility is restricted is called a
blindspot. The driver of a vehicle may not see persons and other
vehicles in these blindspots. Larger vehicles generally have larger
blindspots. Here are a few tips that will help you to deal with these
blindspots:
Driving Behind Trucks:
If you can see the truck's mirrors, then the driver can probably see
your vehicle. You may make your vehicle more visible by positioning it
slightly left of the centre of the lane.
Driving Beside Trucks:
When you must drive beside a truck, do not assume that its driver is
aware of your presence. Take extra precautions when overtaking and
always try to anticipate changes in traffic flow.
Driving in Front of Trucks:
Be sure to provide clear indications of your intentions and avoid
making sudden changes in speed. Try to anticipate changes in traffic
flow before the changes effect you.
Construction Zones
Each year, thousands of serious injuries occur in construction zones.
It is very important that all motorists pay attention to all the signs
when entering a construction zone. These include:
There will often be a construction worker posted to control traffic or
provide other directions to motorists. This person is called a traffic
control person. Always pay attention to the controller's directions.
Above all, use common sense. Always reduce your speed, increase your
following distance, stay alert, be cautious and patient when travelling
through construction zones. The safety of yourself and others depends on
it.