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SEMI-TRUCKS AND BUSES

Share the road: Alberta reminds motorists to be mindful of commercial vehicles

Mar 26, 2025 | 2:28 PM

Alberta’s government would like to remind drivers that large commercial vehicles like semi-trucks and buses are very different from personal vehicles, and that specific safety considerations should be kept in mind when sharing a road with them.

When driving near a semi-truck or bus, residents are asked to remember:

  • Unlike personal vehicles, trucks and buses need more room on the road to operate safely.
  • Large commercial vehicles take longer to stop than passenger vehicles because of their size and weight, as well as the condition and temperature of the vehicle’s brakes.
  • Give semi-trucks and buses the room they need to operate safely by avoiding blind spots and not following too closely.
  • Semi-trucks will usually swing slightly to the left before making a right-hand turn; do not assume the driver is turning left.
  • Leave at least three metres between your vehicle and the rear of a semi-truck stopped at a light or stop sign, especially on a hill.

When a passenger vehicle collides with a larger commercial vehicle, occupants are more likely to be killed or injured due to the differences in weight, stopping distance and rollover potential.

Commercial drivers can also contribute to traffic safety by doing the following:

  • Stay alert while driving, pull over for the day when you’re tired, and follow the Hours of Service Regulation.
  • Maintain a safe following distance.
  • Be aware of your blind spots and make wide turns safely.
  • Ensure that cargo is properly secured.
  • Follow 511 Alberta to stay updated on road conditions, traffic, construction and weather conditions.

The government reports, in 2022, there were 25 fatal and 65 major-injury collisions involving semi-trucks. Of the 289 people killed in semi-truck collisions between 2018 and 2022, about 75 per cent were occupants of passenger vehicles.

As of March 31, 2024, there were 85,034 semi-trucks registered in Alberta.