WASHINGTON, September 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the American Trucking Associations and ATA’s Share the Road highway safety program are advising Labor Day travelers to take extra driving precautions during the busy holiday weekend.
As summer begins to wind down, families will be on the road packing in every bit of summer fun they can. Holiday has predicted that during the Labor Day weekend, nearly 92 million American adults intend to travel by car to reach their destination. Therefore, it is essential that drivers practice patience, planning and the basics of safety.
“With high volumes of traffic traveling greater distances than usual on highways this Labor Day weekend, practicing safe driving is vital,” said professional truck driver Share the Road. Jeff Roseyellow. “Everyone deserves to be able to celebrate this holiday in safety, and by implementing these simple safety tips, the motoring public can ensure a safe holiday for themselves and their neighbors on the road.”
“Doing little things as simple as fasten your seat belt, put away your cell phone and leave an appropriate distance between you and other cars can play a role in safe driving,” said professional truck driver Share the Road. Bob Bramwellof ABF Freight System, Inc.“We want people across America to have a great time with their family and friends this holiday, and using these tips from professional truck drivers can drastically increase highway safety for everyone.”
Share the Road professional truck drivers promote these safety tips to drivers, students, members of the media and elected officials across the country during the Share the Road program tour and through Share the Road’s award-winning instructional video. They highlight these tips during major U.S. holidays to remind drivers of all ages about the key elements of safe driving, especially regarding the use of small passenger vehicles next to large tractor trailers.
- Collect: Seat belts save lives. Day or night, and even if you’re riding in the back seat – wear your seat belt.
- Slow down: The chance of a crash nearly triples when you drive faster than the surrounding traffic. Spring and summer are the periods when work areas are busiest. It is important to reduce your speed when traveling through those areas.
- Do not drive while impaired: There is much to celebrate this time of year, including graduations and parties seemingly every weekend. That said, driving is a big responsibility, and your fellow passengers are relying on safe and attentive drivers to share the road respectfully and make good decisions.
- Watch out for the truck’s blind spots: When sharing the road with large trucks, be aware of their blind spots. If you cannot see the professional truck driver in his or her mirrors, then the professional truck driver cannot see you.
- Keep your eyes on the road: Distracted driving is the leading cause of traffic accidents, especially among young drivers. Even just two seconds of distraction doubles the chances of an accident. Only use your cell phone when prohibited and don’t text while driving.
- Don’t wait in front of big trucks: Remember that trucks are heavier and take longer to come to a complete stop, so avoid cutting in front of them.
- Prepare your vehicle for long journeys: Check your wipers and fluids. Service your radiator and cooling system. Simple maintenance before you leave your home can prevent many of the problems that can strand drivers on the side of the road.
- Leave early and avoid the dangers: Leave early so you don’t have to worry about arriving late. Road conditions may change due to bad weather or traffic congestion.
- Watch out for the vehicle in front of you: Leave extra space between you and the vehicle in front.
- Understand overload patterns: High traffic volumes lead to greater opportunities for accidents, so plan your journey to avoid traffic jams and increased traffic volumes.
Share the road is a highway safety awareness program of the American Trucking Associations that educates all drivers about safely sharing the road with large trucks. An elite team of professional truck drivers with millions of accident-free miles deliver life-saving messages to millions of drivers every year. The security program is sponsored by Mack Trucks Inc., and supported by TA-Petro, Pre-Pass, Hyundai TransleadOmniTracs, Mack Leasing, PSI, Shell Lubricants and Bendix. www.atastr.org. Follow Share the Road at I tweet AND Facebook.
The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 state trucking associations and related industry conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America most depends on to move our nation’s goods. Follow THEM at I tweet or Facebook. Trucking moves America forward
SOURCE American Trucking Associations
