Yes, truckers live on the road. It's the unsafe ones who die there.

Practice safe driving habits,
or good luck living with the consequences. Highway safety is everyone's responsibility; Truck drivers, auto drivers, and even passengers all play vital roles in ensuring everyone arrives safely at their destination. And the more time you spend on America's highways, the more important it is to remember a few basic tips to help keep yourself and everyone else out there safe. Maintain a safe speed, stay alert and always wear your seat belt. It's that simple. By remembering these rules every time we get behind the wheel, we can all drive to stay alive.

Drowsy Driving Kills
Maybe it's just a head-bob, but when you're behind the wheel, dozing for even a second could be enough to lead to tragedy. Every year thousands of people are killed as a result of drowsy driving. The numbers rival those of driving under the influence of alcohol. So please remember, if you're having difficulty focusing, have heavy eyelids, are yawning frequently or having trouble keeping your head up, you don't belong in the driver's seat. Get off the road and get some sleep. If you're experiencing any of the following, you shouldn't be on the road:

• Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids
• Trouble remembering the last few miles driven
• Repeated yawning
• Trouble keeping your head up
• Drifting, tailgating, or hitting shoulder rumble strips
• Restlessness and irritability

Slow down and live
We all understand the temptation to drive fast, but the truth is, more often than not, speeding works against you. When you're on the highway, sometimes a fraction of a second can make the difference between life and death. If you're driving within posted speed limits that instant of decision can work in your favor, if not, you put everyone around you, yourself included, at risk.

Seatbelts: utilize a little restraint
Did you know that only 48 percent of truck drivers use their seatbelts on a regular basis, as opposed to 86 percent of other drivers? It's true. And when you consider that in an accident your seatbelt may be the only thing between you and tragedy, the idea of not wearing one is simply a risk not worth taking. With the amount of time truck drivers spend on the road, seatbelt use saves thousands of lives every year, while their non-use costs that many lives and more.

Truckers, you're not alone
As we said, safe driving is everyone's responsibility; Truck drivers, auto drivers, and even passengers. It's our hope that truck drivers read this brochure and heed the recommendations. A similar brochure, aimed at other drivers is also being distributed through drivers' education facilities and community events. It gives tips about how to drive safely around trucks, including avoiding the "No-Zone," blind areas around big rigs.

Major Cause of Traffic Related Deaths

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