Monday marked the beginning of Canada Road Safety Week, a campaign designed to increase awareness of safe driving measures and to save lives. Road Safety Week encourages drivers to demonstrate safe driving techniques such as sober driving, use of seat belts, and refraining from speeding.

The Manitoba Trucking Association is taking this opportunity to remind drivers of safety tips while sharing the road with trucks.

As we head into the long weekend, please keep these tips in mind, and have a safe drive.

Avoid blind spots in the front, sides and rear of trucks.
If you can’t see the truck driver in his or her mirrors, then they can not see you. Truck drivers can’t see anything closer than 30 feet and sometimes up to 200 feet behind the trailer. Avoid their "no-zones."

Pass with care
Pass from where the driver can see you and not from directly behind the truck and make sure it is sage to pass. If you’re not sure, don’t pass. When you’re sure it’s safe, signal, move into the passing lane and pass promptly

Don’t cut in front of trucks
Trucks need more time and space to stop than cars. Loaded trucks may take the length of a football field to stop. Stay four to five car lengths in front of trucks.

Don’t cross behind a backing truck
Truck drivers have no rear-view mirror and may not see you behind them.

Beware of their right hand turns
Stay behind the white lines at intersections so trucks can complete their turns. Never get in between a truck and the curb when the truck is making a right turn.

Enter the highway safely
Remember highway traffic has the right of way, and use smooth merging techniques. Don’t cut in front of trucks and force them to stop suddenly because they could jackknife.