Q: As a class A commercial driver, I see a lot of drivers failing to maintain sufficient distance from commercial vehicles. I don’t think they understand the risks involving in being too close. Does the law require that drivers leave more room around big commercial vehicles compared to other cars and trucks?

In an earlier column I made the comparison between a soda can, a Honda Civic, and a freight train, noting that the weigh ratio between the 12 ounce can and the Honda was similar to the Honda and the train — about 4,000 to one. At 35 to one, the ratio of a Honda Civic and the largest commercial vehicle isn’t quite as dramatic — it’s more like the comparing an average fifth-grader to the Honda. I think we’d agree that it’s still an unfair fight and the fifth-grader will lose every time.

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