Alberta RCMP is warning drivers to give large trucks, buses and other commercial vehicles more room as summer traffic picks up across the province.
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The June 15 reminder urges both commercial and passenger-vehicle drivers to use extra caution around semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, buses and other large vehicles.
Because of their size and weight, commercial vehicles need more room to stop, turn and merge safely, RCMP said.
“A variety of vehicles share our roadways every day, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep each other safe,” Sgt. Darrin Turnbull with Alberta RCMP Traffic said in the release.
“Commercial vehicles need more time and space to operate safely due to their size and weight. Help avoid a collision with one of these vehicles by practicing extra caution around them and by giving them extra space.”
Commercial Vehicle Safety Month underway
The reminder comes during Commercial Vehicle Safety Month, as police continue to point to both mechanical safety issues and the need for more caution around large vehicles.
Calgary Police Service said in a June 12 social media post that officers have stopped and inspected 202 commercial vehicles so far this year for possible violations.
The same post listed monthly inspection and out-of-service figures from January through May.
In January, CPS said 44 vehicles were inspected and 37 were placed out of service.
All 32 vehicles inspected in February were placed out of service, according to police.
In March, officers inspected 37 vehicles and placed 26 out of service.
Another 50 vehicles were inspected in April, with 42 placed out of service.
In May, CPS said 46 vehicles were inspected and 41 were placed out of service.
Commercial vehicle drivers are responsible for ensuring their vehicles meet safety standards, CPS said.
CPS said drivers should perform a safety check before starting each trip.
Safety starts before the trip
For commercial drivers, RCMP said safety starts before the trip begins.
Drivers should complete trip inspections to make sure their vehicles are in proper operating condition and carry the required inspection certificates, according to RCMP.
They are also being reminded to stay alert behind the wheel and pull over when tired.
Before heading out, commercial drivers should plan their trips and stay updated on road, traffic, construction and weather conditions, RCMP said.
The agency is also reminding commercial drivers to maintain a safe following distance, be aware of blind spots and make wide turns safely.
Anyone hauling or transporting cargo should make sure it is properly secured, RCMP said.
Give large vehicles room to move
For drivers in smaller vehicles, RCMP said distance is key.
Passenger-vehicle drivers should stay far enough behind large trucks to see both of the truck’s side mirrors.
“If you can’t see the truck driver, they can’t see you,” RCMP stated in the release.
Following distance also matters for visibility, according to RCMP, which said drivers should leave enough room behind larger vehicles to see oncoming traffic.
Oncoming commercial vehicles can create strong wind gusts, large splashes in wet conditions or spray rocks and debris, RCMP said.
Drivers are also being reminded to leave extra space when passing or changing lanes in front of a commercial vehicle, as larger vehicles require more time to slow down or come to a stop.
When a large vehicle is signalling a turn, RCMP said drivers should stay back because commercial vehicles require a wider turning radius.
More than 1,000 violations found during May inspections
The reminder follows separate commercial vehicle inspection numbers released by Alberta Sheriffs in May.
According to Alberta Sheriffs, certified Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance inspectors with the Sheriffs Highway Patrol conducted roadside inspections across Alberta from May 12 to 14 as part of International Roadcheck 2026.
Sheriffs said inspectors completed 446 inspections and identified 1,033 safety violations.
The violations involved brakes, tires, lights, suspension, cargo securement and other safety defects, according to Alberta Sheriffs.
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