There is good news and bad news about highway safety concerning cars and big trucks. First, the bad news:

• More than 250,000 crashes involving passenger cars and large trucks occur each year.
• In more than 70 percent of fatal crashes involving autos and big trucks, police report that the automobile driver contributed to the cause of the crash.
• Most crashes between automobiles and trucks occur during daylight on straight and dry pavement under good weather conditions.
• Because trucks are so much bigger and heavier than cars, the driver of the car is killed in fatal car-truck collisions four out of five times.

Now, the good news Many of these crashes could be avoided if motorists knew about truck limitations and how to steer clear of unsafe situations involving trucks.

Remember, trucks don't drive like cars

Seems obvious, doesn't it? But while most people realize that it's more difficult to drive a truck than a car, many don't know exactly what a truck's limitations are in terms of maneuverability, stopping distances and blind spots. So here's a handy rule of thumb: Generally speaking, the bigger they are:

• the bigger their blind spots.
• the more room they need to maneuver.
• the longer it takes them to stop.
• the longer it takes to pass them.
• the more likely you're going to be the loser in a collision.

The following are some specific situations that come up when you're sharing the road with trucks.

• Passing - When cars cut in too soon after passing, then abruptly slow down, truck drivers are forced to compensate with little time or room to spare. Because it takes longer to pass a large vehicle, you should maintain a consistent speed when passing and be sure you can see the cab of the truck in your rear-view mirror before pulling in front.
• Backing up - When a truck is backing up, it sometimes must temporarily block the street to maneuver its trailer accurately. Never pass close behind a truck that is preparing to back up or is in the process of backing up. Remember, most trailers are 8-feet wide and can completely hide objects that suddenly come between them and a loading area. So if you try to pass behind the truck, you enter a blind spot for you and the truck driver.
• Rear blind spots - Unlike cars, trucks have deep blind spots directly behind them. Avoid tailgating in this blind spot. The truck driver can't see your car in this position, and your own view of traffic flow is severely reduced. Following too closely greatly increases your chance of a rear- end collision with a truck.
• Side blind spots - Trucks have much larger side blind spots than passenger vehicles. When you drive in these blind spots for any length of time, you can't be seen by truck drivers. If a truck driver needs to change lanes quickly for any reason, a serious crash could occur.
• Wide turns - Truck drivers sometimes need to swing wide to the left to negotiate a right turn. They cannot see cars directly behind or beside them. Cutting to the right between the truck and the curb or shoulder increases the possibility of a crash.