December 18, 2024
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute’s (VTTI) Sharing the Road with Trucks Program has been making stops across the country, including Blacksburg, Virginia.
On December 7, 2024, the program partnered with the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets to conduct a safety demonstration for first-year cadets in the 2nd Battalion.
“The safety of our students in the Corps of Cadets program is something we factor into all of our training and education. Our graduates will leave college after a few years, and we need to make sure they are mentally and physically ready to thrive. And this partnership with VTTI to deliver traffic safety education is a perfect example of how we are providing experiential training that will serve our students well while here at Virginia Tech and beyond,” said Deputy Commandant of Cadets Nate Brown. “Let’s think about it, our Cadets are predominantly 18-22 years old so many have not been driving for that many years. And no matter how experienced they may be, driving on Interstate 81 with the preponderance of semi-trucks on hills and around turns is not for the faint of heart. This training will give our Cadets a better appreciation of the challenges that those trucks are facing and hopefully encourage safer and more informed driving when operating a personal vehicle in close proximity.”
The event took place on Virginia Tech’s campus and over 100 first-year cadets were educated on the five key strategies for safely sharing the road with tractor-trailers and other large trucks:
- Don’t hang out in the no-zone.
- Don’t cut trucks off.
- Maintain a safe following distance.
- Properly pass a truck.
- Don’t get squeezed.
To educate the cadets on these five strategies, they had the opportunity to climb into the driver seat of a semi-truck and see how large the truck’s blind spots are. Additionally, they were shown videos of different driving behaviors and discussed safety tips with researchers from the institute and officers from the Virginia Tech Police.
“Sharing the road with large commercial vehicles requires a heightened awareness and understanding of their unique operating characteristics. These vehicles require significantly more time and distance to stop, making it crucial for motorists to maintain a safe following distance, avoid sudden lane changes, and be wary of the substantial blind spots around trucks,” said Cadet Kyle Schoonover ’25. “VTTI and Pete the Peterbilt have given our Cadets new perspective into this by educating us about these important safety considerations. Together, we hope to continue to work together to promote a culture of safety and respect on our roadways.”
Following the demonstration, the institute’s Sharing the Road Peterbilt semi-truck was given the rank of cadet sergeant first class during a ceremony conducted with the Corps of Cadets.
For more information or to schedule a visit, email sharingtheroad@vtti.vt.edu or visit the website.