Motor Carrier

Between 2006 and 2008, the number of commercial motor vehicle crashes that resulted in fatalities fell 19 percent.

Commercial motor vehicle drivers are required by state law to wear their seat belt. Failure to do so will result in a $100 fine.

A 2008 survey revealed that 73 percent of commercial motor vehicle drivers in Missouri wear a seat belt.

These tips can improve your safety when driving near commercial trucks or buses:

• After passing a truck, wait until you can see both of its headlights in your rearview mirror before pulling into the same lane.
• Keep a safety cushion around trucks. Can you see the truck’s side mirrors? If not, the driver cannot see you. Leave at least a 20-car-length gap when driving behind a truck.
• Never linger alongside a truck and risk “disappearing” from their vision due to blind spots.

It is also important for truck drivers to remember the following tips:

• Pre-inspect the condition of your vehicle before travel and make sure your load is secure.
• Maximize the vision around your truck with properly adjusted mirrors; be sure mirrors are properly set and clean.
• Focus on driving, not distractions.
• Obey speed limits and traffic signs. Excessive speed reduces your ability to avoid a crash, extends your vehicle’s stopping distance, and increases the severity of a crash when it occurs.