MoDOT: Share the road during Operation Safe Driver week | News

(KFVS) - The Missouri Department of Transportation is urging drivers to share the road during Operation Safe Drivers week from Oct. 16 to 22.

MoDOT says the point of Operation Safe Drivers week is that drivers of big trucks and passenger vehicles need to respect each other, pay attention and avoid unsafe behavior that could result in a crash.

“A driver’s first responsibility is to operate safely, whether the vehicle has two, four, eighteen or more wheels,” said Jan Skouby, MoDOT Motor Carrier Services director. “But go a step further and think about the other drivers near you. Are they paying attention? If not, pay more attention to them. Can they see you? If not, be sure to make yourself visible.”

Commercial vehicle drivers are also urging those with smaller cars to be extra careful when driving around trucks.

“A truck does not drive like a car," said Skouby. "They can’t make the same sudden moves and stops. The blind spots are much larger. It’s important to keep in mind that in a situation that pits a car versus a large truck, it doesn’t matter who is in the right. The car is likely to get the worst of it.”

Skouby has suggested a few things to remember when driving near trucks:

• Don't hang out in the No-Zone - the areas around trucks where cars disappear into blind spots or are so close that they restrict the truck driver's ability to stop or maneuver safely
• Use your headlights in inclement weather. Lights make cars more visible to truck drivers. A gray car against a gray highway on a gray, rainy day is hard to see

According to MoDOT, all drivers, regardless of the type of vehicle, are encouraged to buckle up, mind the speed limit and pay attention to the driving task.

For more information about sharing the road safely, you can visit SaveMoLives.com.

Copyright 2011 KFVS. All rights reserved