Cash did just that to several members of the media, who volunteered to be his guinea pigs. Through a series of questions, he illustrated to the would-be drivers just how limited the sight lines are in a big rig. And when you're hauling 80,000 pounds, he noted, seeing is surviving.

Here are some tips for motorists when sharing the road with truckers:

• Never cut in front of a truck.

• Never linger alongside a truck. Cars can momentarily "disappear" from view due to blind spots.

• Pass trucks quickly to increase visibility and reduce dangers associated with lingering beside a truck.

• Only change lanes when you can see both of the truck's headlights in your rearview mirror.

• If possible, pass a truck on the left, not on the right, because the truck's blind spot on the right runs the length of the trailer and extends out three lanes.

• Keep a safety cushion around trucks. Try to leave a 10-car length gap when in front of a truck and 20-25 car lengths when behind a truck.

• Check a truck's mirrors. If you are following a truck and you cannot see the driver's face in the truck's side mirrors, the truck driver cannot see you.

• Allow trucks adequate space to maneuver. Trucks make wide turns at intersections and require additional lanes to turn.

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E-mail: zman@desnews.com