Professional Drivers Offer Highway Safety Tips for Thanksgiving Travel

America's Road Team Captains Provide Life Saving Advice

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 19, 2007; As over 36 million motorists prepare to hit the road this Thanksgiving holiday, elite professional truck drivers with millions of accident-free miles are offering advice on how to arrive safely to friends and family.

America's Road Team Captains agree that these keys will make for happy motoring:

-- Use common sense: Thanksgiving is the most traveled holiday and most motorists don't travel the highways as often as trucks do - be sure to use extra caution.

-- Perform a pre-trip: Safety begins in the driveway. Check your vehicle's tires, wipers and fluids. Have your radiator and cooling system serviced. You can prevent many of the problems that strand motorists on the side of the road before you leave your home.

-- Plan your trip: Know your exit by name and number, allow plenty of driving time and factor in stops for food and rest.

-- Check your emergency kit: Contents should include: battery powered radio, flashlight, blanket, jumper cables, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, bottled water, non-perishable foods, maps, tire repair kit and flares.

-- Be aware of changes in weather: Weather conditions across the U.S. will be changing - especially during early mornings and evenings with the cold. Watch for ice, snow and other weather related obstacles. Also, remember weather can change dramatically from when you start your trip to when you end. Bring a sweater and watch for the signs.

-- Leave early and avoid risks: Leave early so you won't be anxious about arriving late and to accommodate delays. Road conditions may change due to inclement weather or traffic congestion.

-- Know your limitations: Don't drive when tired, upset, or physically ill. Remember, when traveling in a car, you are in control and can take a break if needed.

-- Be aware of truck blind spots: When sharing the road with large trucks, be aware of their blind spots. If you can't see the truck driver in his or her mirrors, then the truck driver can't see you.

-- Take care when changing lanes: Never try to gain a few seconds by attempting a risky maneuver and think twice about changing lanes just get around a vehicle that is traveling at a speed close to yours. Do not cut a truck short - they can take up to two football fields to fully stop.

-- Slow Down: With the extra highway congestion due to Holiday travel, speeding becomes even more dangerous. Allow plenty of space cushion and reduce your speed.

-- Buckle up: Safety belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45 percent and are a simple way to increase your safety on the road.

The America's Road Team would like to remind the motoring public that from driveway to highway, safety requires patience and dedication.

For more information on ATA's America's Road Team, sponsored by Volvo Trucks North America, visit www.americasroadteam.com

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.