Safety on Truckers' Wish Lists During Holiday Season

Retailers aren’t the only ones clocking in around the holidays. Truck drivers were on the roads yesterday, they'll be there today and they're going to be there tomorrow.

“Truck traffic does not decrease at all, and there are a lot more travelers,” said Elisabeth Barna, spokeswoman for the American Trucking Associations (ATA), speaking with Elkridge Patch at a truck stop in Jessup. "You still have to get your products to the grocery store shelves, there’s still medicine to be delivered, and there are still things that everybody wants."

To promote safe travels for truck drivers and others on the road, the ATA joined Mack Trucks and Michelin in hosting an event at TravelCenters of America in Jessup on Nov. 21 called "Share the Road."

Bob Weller, who drives a fuel tanker and attended the event on behalf of the ATA, said he was working over Thanksgiving.

And while Weller has been driving his route around the Baltimore-Washington beltway for years, Barna noted that many others on the road for the holidays may be unsure about their destinations.

"Few motorists plan their routes even when driving through unfamiliar areas," said Barna. "Knowing the road is essential for safe driving—it allows you to anticipate lane changes and avoid a panicked search for directions."

She offered these tips:

• Know your exit by name and number before you get on a highway.
• Watch the signs as you near the off-ramp. Drivers making unexpected lane changes to exit often cause collisions.
• Do not cut in front of large trucks. Remember that trucks are heavier and take longer to make a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them.

Drivers can help a trucker out just by keeping their eyes open. 

“Three out of four car-truck fatalities are unintentionally caused by the driver of the car because they don’t know that trucks have large blind spots,” said Barna.

You are visible to truck drivers if you can see their mirrors; if you can't see their mirrors, the drivers probably can't see you.

“Stay in your mirrors—be aware of what’s going on around you. Just be visual,” said Weller.

He said that many drivers don't realize truckers have a blind spot. 

“We need a little bit more space than they give us,” said Chris Service, who drives an 18-wheeler for WalMart and is also part of ATA. “My advice is to slow down. You can get where you’re going at a slower speed.”

The ATA takes its interactive “Share the Road” program to major cities around the country over the holidays. It also runs educational programs in schools and communities year-round.

Barna said the program came to Jessup because of its proximity to major highways.

“Baltimore is a busy corridor—I-95 is a busy place for both trucks and cars, and it’s right here,” she said. “We try to go to different metropolitan areas.” This was the ATA’s first “Share the Road” event in Jessup, she said.

On Saturday, the ATA team will head to Virginia, said Barna, adding its message of safety to the sounds of the holidays as the Capitol Christmas Tree comes through Alexandria, on a flatbed truck.