Every day; day in and day out, truck drivers have cars merging onto the freeway next to them without even bothering to look in their mirrors, let alone over their shoulder.  Then, there are cars that hurry to cut in front of the truck, and immediately slow down once they have the lane.  Whether this is done on purpose or simply out of ignorance, it makes the practice no less dangerous than playing with a stick of dynamite.  When a 3,000 pound vehicle goes up against an 80,000 pound vehicle, there should be no doubt which will come out on top.

Of course, there are some people that think eighteen-wheelers should not even be allowed on the highways.  Obviously, these people live in some fairy tale world where land transport is not necessary to make the country's economy thrive.  If trucks are not allowed to operate, how will the nation's products be delivered?  Produce, electronics, dry goods, meat, furniture, lumber, heavy machinery, automobiles, steel-the list goes on and on and on-all the things that those truck drivers deliver.  Is there a rail system that can get into the areas for delivery that a truck can?  How about boats, barges or planes?

The United States Government, pressured by special interest groups, is busy enacting new laws and restrictions for the trucking industry that will only serve to make truck driving as a way of life, more difficult. While it is true that the highways need to be made more safe, the question is where does the danger lie?  Most truck drivers are professionals who care about the lives they touch and conduct themselves accordingly.  They want to do their job as efficiently and safely as possible, so they can return to their families.  Instead of putting more unnecessary restrictions on the trucking industry, the Government should consider dedicating more time and energy in the education of automobile drivers.

If you are a "four-wheeler" think about what you are doing when you are driving on the same highway with eighteen wheelers.  As an automobile driver, you are at a disadvantage if involved with a larger vehicle like a truck.  In 9 of 10 fatal collisions involving a semi, the deceased was an occupant of the passenger vehicle, due to the size of the commercial vehicle.

Following are a few tips from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to help you drive safer to prevent accidents and minimize injuries and fatalities.

           1.  If you cut in front of another vehicle, you may create an emergency braking situation for the vehicles         around you, especially in heavy traffic.  Trucks take much longer to stop in comparison to cars.   When passing a truck, look for the front of the truck in your rear view mirror before pulling in front and avoid braking situations.

           2.  Always wear your seatbelt.   If you are involved in an accident with a truck, wearing a seatbelt will keep you from striking the steering wheel or windshield, being thrown around and from being ejected from the car.

           3.  Be aware of the "NO-ZONES." Large trucks have blind spots, or No-Zones, around the front, backs and sides of the truck.
              a.  Rear No-Zone - Avoid tailgating!  If you can't see the driver's face in his side-view mirror, he can't see you.  If he has to brake suddenly, you have no place to go!
              b.  Front No-Zone - Pass Safely!  Don't cut in too soon after passing.  Trucks need nearly twice the time and room to stop as cars.  Look for the whole front of the truck in your rear view mirror before pulling in front, and then don't slow down!
              c.  Backing Up No-Zone - Pay Closer Attention!  Never cross behind a truck that is backing up.  Hundreds of motorists and pedestrians are killed or injured, each year, by ignoring trucks backing up.  Truck drivers do not have rear view mirrors and cannot see you behind them!
              d.  Wide Right Turns - Avoid the Squeeze Play!  Truck drivers sometimes need to swing wide to the left in order to safely make a right turn.  They cannot see cars trying to squeeze in between them and the curb.  Watch for their turn signals and give them room to turn!

           4.  Inattentive drivers can be as dangerous as aggressive ones when they drive slowly in the passing lane, ignore truck brake lights and create emergency braking situations.  They also create dangerous situations when they attempt to do other things while driving, such as using cell phones, changing clothes or putting on makeup.  When you are driving, focus on the road and driving safely.

           5.  Aggressive drivers are dangerous drivers.  Speeding, running red lights and stop    signs, pulling in front of trucks too quickly when passing and making frequent lane changes, especially in the blind spots of trucks, can create potentially fatal situations on the road.