This week's tip, taken from The State of Alaska Driver Manual, concerns the risks associated with tailgating a tractor trailer. You may want to pass this along to your fleet drivers as a friendly reminder. 

Driving too closely behind a big commercial truck prevents you from seeing and reacting to changing traffic conditions. You won't notice a slow-down on the highway, debris in the road, or a crash until it is a braking emergency. 

If there is a problem ahead, your first hint will be the truck's brake lights. If you happen to be distracted or fatigued, you may not be able to react in time. If you hit the rear of a tractor trailer, you'll quickly learn that such trucks are unforgiving. They typically do not have impact-absorbing bumpers and their metal bumpers may not align with yours. So be smart and give yourself plenty of room -- more than you would for a passenger vehicle.

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