Seeing, signaling and stopped vehicles
Look 12 to 15 seconds ahead. At highway speed that's about a quarter mile, enough time to spot trouble and slow down or change lanes smoothly. Check your mirrors regularly and before every lane change, turn or merge.
Know your mirrors. Convex (curved) mirrors show a wider area, but they make things look smaller and farther away than they really are. Large trucks have big blind spots directly behind and along the right side, and close in front and beside the cab.
Signal early and clearly so other drivers know what you're doing. Don't wave other drivers to pass you; if they crash, you could be blamed.
If you stop on the road or shoulder, turn on your four-way flashers right away and set out warning triangles within 10 minutes. On a two-lane road, put one about 10 feet from the vehicle on the traffic side, one about 100 feet behind and one about 100 feet ahead. On a divided or one-way road, put all three behind you at about 10, 100 and 200 feet. Behind a hill or curve, move the rear one back as far as 500 feet.
