Which behavior best promotes safety when sharing the road with a large commercial truck?

• A. Stay out of blind spots and give extra following distance when sharing the road with a large truck.
• B. Stay directly in front to prevent lane changes.
• C. Tailgate to push the truck to move faster.
• D. Overtake in urban areas regardless of traffic.

Answer: (A)

Sharing the road with a large truck is safest when you respect the truck’s visibility and stopping needs. Trucks have big blind spots on the sides and rear, where the driver can’t see nearby vehicles. By staying out of those blind spots and giving extra following distance, you’re in the driver’s line of sight and provide more time to react if the truck slows, changes speed, or makes a wide turn. The sheer weight and length of a commercial truck mean it takes longer to stop and maneuver, so more space ahead translates to a safer cushion for both of you.

Choosing to sit directly in front limits the truck’s lane-change visibility and can make it harder for the driver to see you when preparing to move. Tailgating offers no extra speed and dramatically increases crash risk if the truck brakes suddenly. Overtaking in urban areas without considering traffic and signals places you in close proximity during turns or when the truck needs to merge, which is dangerous.

So, staying out of the truck’s blind spots and keeping extra following distance best promotes safety.