Share the Road Professional Truck Drivers Bring Safety Tour to Sioux City

SIOUX CITY, Iowa, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations and ATA's Share the Road highway safety program are in Sioux City, Iowa to demonstrate safe-driving skills to area drivers.

"All of us have the responsibility of being safe when we're out on the road, so we're here this week to give students a few extra pointers on how to drive safely around large trucks and other motorists this summer," said Share the Road professional truck driver Randall Luschen, of Weinrich Truck Lines. "One of the most important parts of our message is reminding young drivers that distracted driving is incredibly dangerous and is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents among teens."

High school students throughout the Sioux City region have the opportunity to climb into the cab of a tractor-trailer to learn exactly what a professional truck driver is able to see from the driver's seat. The demonstrations taking place this week focus on the blind spots surrounding large trucks, but also highlight the dangers of distracted driving, the importance of maintaining a safe following distance and the correct way to operate a vehicle near a large truck.

"Truck drivers have a unique perspective on highway safety because we spend so much time on the road," said Share the Road professional truck driver Nate McCarty, of ABF Freight. "As trained professionals, we think it's our duty to help spread these safe driving habits to the next generation of drivers so that we can all continue to be safe on the highways for years to come."

Share the Road professional drivers, many of whom have millions of accident-free driving miles, tour the nation educating students, the media, community groups and public officials about how to properly share the highway with tractor-trailers. By using engaging blind spot demonstrations and giving non-commercial drivers a hands-on chance to understand the size and limitations of a truck, Share the Road professional drivers have a direct impact on highway safety.

Share the Road is a highway safety outreach program of the American Trucking Associations that educates all drivers about sharing the roads safely with large trucks. An elite team of professional truck drivers with millions of accident-free miles deliver life-saving messages to millions of motorists annually. The safety program is sponsored by Mack Trucks Inc., and supported by TA-Petro, Pre-Pass, Hyundai Translead, OmniTracs, SmartDrive, Mack Leasing, Bendix and Spireon. www.atastr.org. Follow the Share the Road on Twitter and Facebook.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward.

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SOURCE American Trucking Associations

CONTACT: Elisabeth Barna, 703-838-1945, ebarna@trucking.org