Welcome! Thank you for visiting www.BadgeOnBoard.NV.gov webpage. The purpose of the webpage is to educate motorists on how to share the road safely with commercial motor vehicles.
Nationally in 2008, 4,229 people died in large truck related crashes, and in crashes between trucks and passenger cars, 70% of the fatalities were the passenger vehicle occupants. To help reduce injuries and fatalities, Congress directed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to work together to educate motorists on how to share the road safely with commercial motor vehicles – large trucks and buses.
Unsafe Driving Behaviors
56 percent of deadly crashes between large trucks and cars involve one or more unsafe driving behaviors by the passenger car driver, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Their analysis of NHTSA data shows speeding is the most common contributing factor and is involved in nearly one in three deadly crashes.
Unsafe driving behavior near large trucks and buses include, but are not limited to:
- Unsafe lane changes;
- Failure to signal lane changes;
- Failure to yield the right of way;
- Following to closely;
- Speeding;
- Failure to use Due Care;
- Aggressive driving (a combination of two or more behaviors).
The "NO-ZONE"
One of the best ways for the traveling public to drive safely near large trucks and buses is to understand the No-Zone, and how to share the road with trucks.
The No-Zones are those locations around large commercial vehicles that the truck or bus driver can not see other vehicles.
While a truck driver may be able to see vehicles right in front of the truck, the space in front of a truck or bus is also a No-Zone, as it takes at least twice as long for a large truck to stop as a regular passenger vehicle.
Safely sharing the road with trucks means giving them more space in front and behind, and limiting the amount of time spent driving alongside.
Give Big Rigs Big Space
The diagram below provides the four Blindspot / No Zone locations, where the driver of the truck or bus cannot see the smaller vehicle. When traveling near a truck or bus, avoid traveling in the Blindspot / No Zone.
When changing lanes, leave additional space between you and the truck or bus.