As the country begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans are eager to return to regular travel—but an increase in traffic also means increased danger on U.S. roads.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is urging motorists to stay alert and drive safely as traffic begins to spike to pre-pandemic levels. Here are a few of the guidelines and best practices the FMCSA suggests to help keep the roads safe.

Guidance for trucks and buses

FMCSA Deputy Administrator Meera Joshi places particular emphasis on responsible driving practices for commercial truck drivers and bus operators.

While trucks and buses play an invaluable role in supporting the U.S. economy and providing accessible public transportation, they can also be a major threat to other motorists, especially bikers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.

Joshi urges truck drivers and bus operators to be aware of their surroundings and to stay watchful for pedestrians and bikers.

Our Roads, Our Safety

In order to encourage this kind of safe driving behavior, the FMCSA also leads a national partnership program called Our Roads, Our Safety, which provides and distributes safety information resources for use by American drivers.

These are a few best practices the FMCSA suggests for those driving larger trucks and buses.

Bus and truck drivers need to stay alert and vigilant.  The FMCSA suggests that drivers constantly scan ahead for possible traffic issues or other dangers up the road. Checking your mirrors every 8–10 seconds is also important, as it can help you spot drivers who are entering your blind spots. Finally, proper use of signals helps to alert other drivers to your intent, especially if you need to pull off the road.

These are only some of the important safety guidelines available through the Our Roads, Our Safety campaign. Additional tips and resources are available on the FMCSA’s website.