The Missouri Department of Transportation is asking motorists to drive more safely around trucks -- and for truck drivers to slow down and pay attention -- with its new Big Trucks Campaign.

From April 16 to May 6, the awareness campaign will remind all motorists to drive safely around commercial motor vehicles. In turn, commercial motor vehicle drivers will be reminded to obey traffic laws, use their seat belts, slow down and pay attention.

"While fewer of today's crashes involve commercial motor vehicles, they do still occur," says MoDOT. "Research shows that in the majority of these cases, drivers of passenger cars, especially young people, unnecessarily endanger themselves due to inattention and reckless driving around big rigs."

MoDOT is reminding motorists of the following:

- Don't cut off large trucks or buses. Make sure you can see the top of the truck or bus in your rearview mirror before moving back into your original lane.

- Stay out of a truck's blind spots. Big rigs have large blind spots on either side and up to 200 feet behind a vehicle. Pass only on the left side.

- Watch your following distance. Keep a safety cushion around trucks. Can you see the truck's side mirrors? If not, the driver cannot see you.

- Seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45%. Drivers are required by state law to wear their seat belt. Failure to do so can result in a citation. Interstate commercial drivers risk both the driver and company's safety score if operating unbelted.

For more information on the Big Trucks Campaign, visit www.savemolives.com.