Highway Safety Experts Demo Safe-Driving Measures for July 4th Travel
National Share the Road Safety Tour Visits South Carolina to Save Lives on State Highways On a typical day as many as 119,000 vehicles travel I-26
through Columbia, SC. Most automobile drivers are not aware of what they can
do to avoid crashes with tractor-trailers. Who: The American Trucking Associations (ATA), the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the South Carolina State Transport Police, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, the Richland County Sheriff's Department, AAA Carolinas, and the South Carolina Trucking Association. What: A demonstration of highway safety measures for saving lives on area roads during July 4th travel will be conducted for local news media, including "ride-alongs" in tractor- trailers, as part of the national Share the Road safety tour visiting Columbia, SC. When: Wednesday, June 28, 2006, 10:00 AM EDT. Where: Columbiana Centre (behind Toys-R-Us), 100 Columbiana Circle, Columbia, SC (see driving directions below.) Summary: Professional truck drivers with millions of miles of accident-free driving, ATA, state and local law enforcement, and others will demonstrate safety measures critical to saving lives on area highways. A static demonstration with simulated highway lanes will show how cars and trucks can get into crashes. A professional truck driver will provide truck ride-alongs for news reporters and photographers, providing tips on blind spots, driving in construction zones, and safe stopping and following distances. A state-of-the-art tractor trailer will demonstrate to reporters advanced safety technologies. This safety advice is critical for South Carolina drivers because: * Around three quarters of all truck-involved fatalities are inadvertently initiated by car drivers (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). * 35% of all truck-involved highway fatalities occur in a truck's blind spots (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). * Watching this demonstration will help reduce accidents and save lives. Directions: Take I-26 to Exit 103. From the east take a right, from the west take a left and at the second light go right. From mall entrance go left then behind Toys-R-Us. About Share the Road: Share the Road (http://www.atastr.org/), is a highway safety program that delivers life-saving messages to hundreds of U.S. cities and reaches millions of motorists annually, designed to educate all drivers about sharing the roads safely with trucks. The safety program sponsored by Mack Trucks, Inc., Chevron Delo and Michelin North America, Inc., is presented by an elite team of professional truck drivers with millions of miles of accident-free driving on America's highways. Tractor-trailer provided by Mack Leasing Systems and GE Trailer Fleet Services.