National Share the Road Highway Safety Program Visits Texas to Promote Safe Driving

Life-saving highway driving tips were presented today by top professional truck drivers as part of Trucking and Moving Day at the Texas State Capitol.

In conjunction with Trucking and Moving Day, elite million mile accident-free drivers shared their message of highway safety with state officials. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were 3,422 traffic deaths statewide in 2007.

The American Trucking Associations, Texas Motor Transportation Association, Southwest Movers Association, and the Share the Road sponsors, Mack Trucks and Michelin North America, joined the elite group of drivers to discuss highway safety with Texas lawmakers.

"It is an honor to be here today at the Texas state capitol," said Ben Saiz, a professional truck driver for ABF Freight System. "As a professional truck driver, the highway is my office and driving safely is my top priority. Hopefully, sharing my decades of experience with the public and these state lawmakers will help save lives."

Featured at today's event were professional truck drivers Ralph Garcia (ABF Freight System), Gary Leu (Wal-Mart Transportation) and Ben Saiz (ABF Freight System). These drivers are members of an elite team of million-mile, accident-free truck drivers who deliver the trucking industry's safety messages across the country.

Leu told reporters at the event that, "Share the Road allows me as a truck driver to give people life-saving advice. Most automobile drivers were never taught what they can do to avoid an accident with a tractor-trailer. By being aware of the blind spots around trucks, all drivers can more easily avoid crashes. This information, and other safety advice, will help everyone to share the roads safely."

Today's presentation of Share the Road safety measures is important for motorists because, according to statistics:

In 2007, there were 3,422 traffic deaths in Texas. (TxDOT)

There are over 20 million registered cars in Texas, a 40 percent increase since 2000. (TxDOT)

35 percent of all truck-involved highway fatalities occur in a truck's blind spots (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration).

According to three different studies -- including the AAA Traffic Safety Foundation and DOT, 3 out of 4 truck-involved fatalities are unintentionally initiated by car drivers.

Following the safety demonstration today at the Texas State Capitol, reporters and photographers were given tractor-trailer rides on the highway. From the truck driver's perspective they viewed safe merging and stopping distances, and learned up close and personal some of the differences between how cars and large trucks operate on the highways. Today's demonstration was designed to teach specific skills in order for motorists to drive safely around other automobiles and around trucks on the highways, so that they arrive safely at their destinations.

Ride-alongs are also available by appointment Friday, Feb. 13.