America's Top Truck Drivers Offer Tips to Stay Safe And Save Summer Travel Fuel

America's Road Team Captains Give Highway Safety Tips

ARLINGTON, Va., June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As motorists prepare for July 4^th vacation travel, a team of million mile accident-free truck drivers are helping to make our roads safer.  AAA estimates that over 39 million Americans will drive 50 miles or more this coming weekend.  America's Road Team Captains, elite professional truck drivers chosen by the American Trucking Associations, are offering advice on how to safely navigate through highway traffic and congestion this summer and, at the same time, save costly fuel.

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America's Road Team Captains agree that the first step toward a safe trip begins in the driveway.

• Prepare you vehicle for long distance travel - Check your wipers and fluids. Have your radiator and cooling system serviced. Simple maintenance before you leave your home can prevent many of the problems that strand motorists on the side of the road.
• Properly inflate your tires – Properly inflated tires can save up to 4 percent in fuel mileage, while over inflation can lead to tire failure. Keep your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently by routinely checking your tire pressure.
• Drive the speed limit – Lower speeds not only save money at the pump, they make you safer on the road. By maintaining a constant moderate speed, drivers can save up to 30 percent on fuel and are better able to react to road conditions and other drivers - so slow down!
• Large Trucks Have Blindspots – Be aware that tractor-trailers have large areas around their trucks where cars are not visible. If you can't see the truck driver in his or her mirrors, then the truck driver can't see you.
• Keep extra water in your vehicle – Just as you keep a winter driving kit in your vehicle, it is important to be prepared when driving during the summer months. Keep plenty of extra water, sunscreen and non-perishable snacks in car in case you are stranded.
• Wait until parked to use cell phones – Driver distraction is a major cause of traffic accidents. Even just two seconds of distraction time doubles the chances of an accident.
• Do not cut in front of large trucks – Remember that trucks are heavier and take longer to make a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them.
• Honor the Right of Way - On entrance ramps, remember highway traffic has the right of way; maintain proper speed, use smooth merging techniques, and don't slow down in front of a truck.
• Road side emergency - Understand that big trucks cannot always stop to assist you, but most will use their radios to contact the police or highway patrol if they see you are in trouble.
• Save fuel - To save fuel, take direct routes, minimize side trips, and keep a steady speed.  Further, a well-tuned engine, properly inflated tires and reduced speed will result in noticeable fuel savings.

"Traffic increases during the summer months as families head out for vacations," said America's Road Team Captain Danny Fuller. "Even with gas prices what they are, I'm seeing many additional cars on the road. This means safe driving habits become all the more important and everyone should slow down and follow the rules of the road."

The America's Road Team would like to remind the motoring public that from driveway to highway, safety requires patience and dedication.

The America's Road Team, sponsored by Volvo Trucks North America, is a national public outreach program led by a small group of professional truck drivers who share superior driving skills, remarkable safety records and a strong desire to spread the word about safety on the highway. www.americasroadteam.com

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.

The American Trucking Associations has led the campaign for rigorous safety laws that affect every driver on the nation's highways. ATA's overall safety agenda includes greater education on sharing the road with large trucks, increased traffic enforcement for all vehicles that operate unsafely around large trucks, the adoption of primary safety belt laws in all states, and reinstatement of a national maximum speed limit of 65 mph for all vehicles. ATA also supports limiting truck speeds at the time of manufacture. www.truckline.com

SOURCE American Trucking Associations