Drivers Resource Group Commandments

Commandments for sharing the road (with BIG trucks!)
1	Don't hang a driver out to dry When truck drivers move over to let you merge into traffic, get out of their way as quickly as possible so they may return to the travel lane. Don't leave them hanging in the passing lane while you , or others, pass them on the right.
2	Don't invade the safety cushion When merging in front of a big truck, leave plenty of space between the truck and you. Professional drivers maintain a 'safe zone' around, and in front of, their vehicles. The cushion is to allow for the extra stopping distance and provides escape routes that may be required by the truck.
3	Don't abuse the truck drivers nerves or brakes The front of the truck is a bad place to be when travelling down an incline. The truck has 18 wheels and 5 brake axles but it still weighs 30 to 40 times as much as the average passenger car. Expect the truck may pick up speed on a downgrade and stay out of the way. Excessive use of big truck, or any other vehicles, brakes will cause them to heat, fade and eventually stop functioning.
4	Stay out of the 'No Zone' The term 'No Zone' refers to the areas around a truck where the driver has zero visibility. They are areas that cannot be viewed through the use of mirrors and are hazardous places to be. If you find yourself in the no zone of a truck, get out of it as quickly as possible.
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5	If you're going to pass, get on with it! When passing a big truck, pass as quickly as safety allows and re-open the drivers escape route should it become needed. Do not hang on either side of a truck or take too much time to complete your passing maneuver.

6	NEVER move behind a backing truck. The drivers field of vision is only 6 to 10 feet wide on either side of the trucks rear bumper. If you move behind a truck that is backing up, the driver will likely never see you coming. Watch for hazard flashers as a truck with hazard flashers on may start backing up at any time.
7	Always watch for turn signals. When moving on the highway, the driver will activate their directional signal when a lane change is required. If you are in the way, clear the drivers path as quickly as safety permits. Do not ever try to jump into the drivers maneuvering space before he/she gets there, they may not see you before its too late. In city traffic, and intersections, trucks require wide turns to clear obstacles. A truck making a narrow right, will bear left before completing the turn. A truck making a narrow left may use a portion of the right lane, and most of the intersection, to clear cross traffic waiting at the signal. Imagine a large question mark in the intersection because that is the likely path the truck will take. When a truck driver activates emergency flashers, the flashers were used to communicate either a non standard maneuver or a hazard ahead. Whenever you see a big truck using hazard flashers, back off as quickly as safety allows. The driver may be unsure of an up coming turn, warning you of a hazard ahead or be having mechanical difficulty that requires moving the truck out of the traffic lane. Hazard flashers are also commonly used when a truck is traveling below the minimum speed limit on a roadway or upgrade. Stay out of the way!
8	By all means, NEVER pass on the right Passing any vehicle on the right is unsafe and against the law. It is particularly hazardous when passing big trucks because of the trucks size, the drivers limited visibility and the possible presence of merging traffic. Trucks usually run the right lanes, many times persuant to local laws, passing on the right prohibits the drivers ability to return to the travel lane and out of the way of faster traffic.

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