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Nearly 200 dump trucks loaded with sand are travelling on Southwest Florida roads six days a week for four months on their way to and from the Collier County beach re-nourishment project.

"This number of trucks on a road with that many people, 9,000 residents, going out of the community is nothing more than dangerous," Nick Batos, Estero Council of Community Leaders Chairman, told Fox 4.

"What does this mean to local drivers? They must drive 'defensively', said Naples Personal Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. "Here are some defensive driving safety tips."

Dump Truck Driving Safety Tip 1 - Keep a Safe Following Distance: Keep a safe distance from a dump truck.  Rear-end collisions can be avoided.  It is also important that when travelling alongside a dump truck that you keep from getting too close.  Wind current could diminish the vehicles stability which would cause the driver to lose control. It is suggested not to drive alongside a dump truck for any longer than necessary as a potential truck tire failure can cause accidents. If a dump truck is following too closely, be careful.  Change lanes or pull over to allow the dump truck to pass. 

Dump Truck Driving Safety Tip 2 - Give Dump Trucks Enough Room in the Front:  Be careful not to cut too closely in front of a dump truck.  Because of their size and weight, they do not handle as well as other, smaller, motor vehicles. 

Dump Truck Driving Safety Tip 3 - Changing Lanes:  Always use turn signals when changing lanes to notify the dump truck driver of your intentions.  After changing lanes and cutting in front of a dump truck, be sure not to suddenly cut the dump truck off and drive slowly in front of it. The United States Department of Transportation reports that about 75% of the accidents involving dump trucks are caused by smaller vehicles.  The reason is that trucks tend to travel at a consistent speed, with fewer lane changes where smaller vehicle drivers are often changing lanes to pass a dump truck.

Dump Truck Driving Safety Tip 4 - Passing: Visibility is limited for dump truck drivers. Blind spots are much larger than smaller vehicles.  Only pass when it is safe to do so.  Allow dump trucks to make their turns or lane changes before passing.

Dump Truck Driving Safety Tip 5 - Load Shift:  When behind a dump truck, or any vehicle, that is losing its load on the road, back off and call 911.

Dump Truck Driving Safety Tip 6 - Driving at Night:  High beams should not be used when travelling behind a dump truck at night.  High beams reflect in the truck's mirrors and may blind the driver.

Dump Truck Driving Safety Tip 7 - Distracted Driving:  Distracted driving is a major factor of crashes between dump trucks and autos.  As always, distracted driving, such as talking on cell phones and texting, is unacceptable.

Dump Truck Driving Safety Tip 8 - Road Rage: Driving behind dump trucks may be frustrating as they often cannot maintain the speed or maneuver like other motor vehicles.  Drivers are encouraged to "Keep Cool".

Naples Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%)  percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at  239. 337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com  for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.