Truck Safety Tips Research reports that over 200,000 accidents involving at least one car and one large truck occur every year in the U.S.A. When reviewing all fatal collisions involving cars and large trucks, law enforcement officials report the auto operator -rather than the truck driver – is typically the responsible party. In fact, more than 60% of the time, auto drivers are responsible for the collision. Other common fallacies include the cause of the accident. While most people think collisions happen on wet or icy roads, the reality is the majority of collisions involving cars and trucks occur in daylight, on straight pavement and under good weather conditions. The operator or passengers of the auto are more likely to be killed (four out of five times) in a fatal auto-truck crash simply because trucks are larger and heavier. Learn how to recognize common problems and keep your driving record (and livelihood) in tact with these quick tips: Remember the blind sport. Car drivers don’t realize that trucks do not drive like automobiles. They have no idea about blind spots or the space required when making a turn so don’t expect them to get out of the way – even if you are bigger. When passing a vehicle, keep in mind they are much smaller so it will take longer to pass. Keep a constant speed. Slow down when passing cars especially in wet weather. Remember, water/dirt often showers the windshield and results in reduced visibility when you are passing a car so the driver can be temporarily blinded or will attempt to “overcome” the truck to not remain behind. Using common sense and allowing for the differences between autos and larger vehicles can save many lives.