SHARE THE ROAD SAFELY
Welcome to the Share the Road Safely website! The Share the Road Safely program strives to improve the knowledge of all highway users to minimize the likelihood of a crash with a large truck and reduce the consequences of those that do occur. The goal of FMCSA is to reduce the large truck fatality rate by 41 percent. Meeting this goal will lower the annual number of truck-related fatalities down to 4,330.
Staying protected during car deals and transactions is as important as being safe on the road. That’s why we are also committed to educating drivers on how to purchase and sell a motor vehicle safely and providing them with lawyer-approved documents. Explore this site to learn what you can do to stay safe both on and off the highway.
Who is This Site for?
The Share the Road Safely Program educates people about how to prevent accidents, injuries, and deaths by sharing the road safely with other types of vehicles. Whether you are driving your car, truck, SUV, RV, riding your bike, or merely walking, you share the road with other vehicles and drivers. In the following pages, you will find safety tips, useful documents, links, and ways to participate in the Share the Road Safely Program to make our roads safer for everyone.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Share the Road Safely Program provides an opportunity for Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers to set the example for other drivers on how to share the road safely. At the same time, it offers the truck and bus drivers the chance to improve their professional image each day they are behind the wheel.
Among all motor vehicles, motorcycles are one of the most vulnerable on the road. Because motorcycles do not have seat belts, their riders can be thrown off your seat in a crash, which can result in serious injury or even death.
Bicycles are the most vulnerable of all vehicles on the road. As a bicyclist riding in traffic or on the sidewalk, you should take extra precautions to protect yourself. Vehicles on the road, especially large trucks and buses, may not see you on your bike.
As a pedestrian, you are at a major disadvantage when crossing streets, intersections, and standing on corners. You are not always visible to drivers; especially for large truck and bus drivers and you don’t stand a chance if a vehicle hits you. Pedestrians need to be careful of all vehicles and never take chances when they are sharing the road with large vehicles, like trucks and buses.
Stay Safe with a Vehicle Bill of Sale
Many drivers underestimate the powers of bills of sale when it comes to selling or buying a motor vehicle. Partly, due to the fact that it’s not required in every state. Therefore, they decide to get around additional legwork and ignore the benefits of the document.
A vehicle bill of sale is easy to prepare, but it will provide additional protection to both parties. Signing a bill of sale is essential because you get not only the receipt of the transaction but also proof that the buyer is aware of the vehicle’s condition and buys it “as is.” If something’s wrong with the vehicle, the seller should always indicate it in the document. Thus, the buyer will be informed and not use the vehicle until it’s repaired. In this way, a bill of sale will contribute to reducing the number of vehicle accidents.
The Most Widely Used Bills of Sale for Cars
A bill of sale for a motor vehicle is often regulated by the state where the sale occurs. Some states provide a specific bill of sale form that must be used. Not all states require it, but it does act as proof of ownership and makes an excellent personal record. The main components of a bill of sale for a motor vehicle include a description of the vehicle, the VIN, and the odometer disclosure statement. It also includes the price as well as the names of the buyer and the seller. It should be signed and dated by both parties. It may need to be notarized depending on the state. Below you will find the most widely used state-specific bill of sale forms.
In Texas, you must register a purchased motor vehicle before driving on the road. And to register your vehicle you will need to sign a Texas Vehicle Bill of Sale. Texas law requires both parties to sign the document. The bill of sale will be required along with the original certificate of title and driver’s license to transfer the ownership. The seller must transfer the vehicle into the buyer’s name within 30 days after the purchase. Otherwise, the seller will continue to be responsible for anything that happens to the vehicle, including tickets, accidents, and crimes involving the vehicle. It’s also recommended that the seller accompanies the buyer to the county tax office to ensure filing of the title application.
If you are a California resident, you will face more red tape than in other states. Although you are not legally required to sign a vehicle bill of sale in California, but it’s highly recommended to have one. First of all, you will record the transaction’s details, including the purchase price, vehicle’s condition, and odometer disclosure. Secondly, you will likely need a bill of sale signed by both parties to register a purchased car. Apart from odometer disclosure, the seller has to provide a smog certificate and file a release of liability. However, a smog certificate isn’t necessary if the vehicle is electric or powered by natural gas. A release of liability must be filed in the California DMV office within five days after selling the car. That’s how the former owner releases themselves from responsibility for any violation connected with the vehicle while the new owner is registering the title.
A Florida vehicle bill of sale is required to register a purchased vehicle in Florida. Both parties of the transaction must sign the Florida bill of sale. The buyer must address the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) within 15 days after the purchase and change the vehicle title in their name. The buyer will have to present an original certificate of title, VIN, and odometer verification along with the bill of sale.
In Oregon, you are not required to have a bill of sale to register a purchased car. However, an Oregon car bill of sale can come in handy for other purposes such as proving the ownership transfer or recording the transaction details. These details may be helpful should any dispute arise. If created, the Oregon bill of sale must be signed by both parties and notarized. The seller must notify the local DMV office about the sale within ten days. The buyer, in their turn, must register the vehicle within 30 days after the date of the transaction or they will have to pay a late title transfer fee. To register your vehicle in Oregon, you may need to collect such documents as an odometer disclosure statement, low emissions vehicle requirement, and declaration of exemption.
A New York vehicle bill of sale is needed when you want to sell your motor vehicle in the state of New York. It documents all the relevant information, including the buyer’s and seller’s contacts, purchase price, vehicle’s description, its condition, and odometer verification. A New York bill of sale must be signed by both parties and notarized. When the transaction is finalized, and the bill of sale is signed, the buyer will have to collect some additional documentation to register the vehicle, such as proof of ownership (for example, certificate of title), title application, and statement of transaction.
Sample Vehicle Bill of Sale:
Vehicle Bills Of Sale by State
Preparing and signing a bill of sale may differ from state to state. You will have to provide more information in some states and attach additional documents related to the vehicle. Signing requirements may also vary by state. As a general rule, only the seller should sign a bill of sale. However, some jurisdictions require the buyer to sign it as well. Depending on the state, the parties may have to notarize the document. Therefore, knowing local requirements is crucial when it comes to selling or buying a motor vehicle. Many states oblige the buyer to have a vehicle bill of sale to register a purchased vehicle. But even if not required, it’s recommended to have a bill of sale to record the transaction and stay protected in future legal disputes. We’ve prepared the list of the state-specific bill of sale templates for you to spend less time on your research and prepare a high-quality document in minutes.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington State
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Stay Safe on the Road
No-Zone Campaign
In 1991 with the enactment of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, Congress directed the Federal Highway Administration – FHWA (now under the direction of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration – FMCSA) to educate the driving public about how to safely share the road with trucks and buses. In response, FMCSA introduced the “No-Zone” or “Share the Road” Program in 1994.
The Campaign was created in 1994 to educate motorists about how to safely share the road with trucks and buses (Commercial Motor Vehicles, CMVs). Its goal is to increase awareness of the No-Zones – danger areas like blind spots, around commercial vehicles, in which cars “disappear” from the view of the truck or bus driver. No-Zones are areas where crashes are more likely to occur. Educating drivers about the No-Zones may reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage from these kinds of crashes.
Working closely with law enforcement agencies and professional associations, as well as other highway safety groups and carriers, FMCSA developed a broad-based strategy to increase public recognition about truck and bus limitations in an effort to influence the motoring public’s driving behavior. A series of television, radio, and print public service announcements (PSAs) and pertinent Share-the-Road materials were developed in coordination with the State of Maryland under a Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) public education grant. As a result, Campaign materials have been distributed and widely used throughout the country.
Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT)
To help reduce crashes and fatalities, Congress directed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to work together to educate motorists on how to share the road safely with commercial motor vehicles (CMVs).
The result of this government collaboration was the development of the Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT) program—a high-visibility traffic enforcement program that uses communication, enforcement, and evaluation activities to reduce CMV-related crashes, fatalities, and injuries.
Get Involved
Safety Partners
The Share the Road Safely Program relies heavily on Safety Partners participating on a grassroots level to help promote Share the Road safety messages. Our Partners include: Federal and State Highway Safety Agencies, local government agencies, law enforcement agencies, trucking associations, motor carriers, highway safety advocacy organizations, and concerned citizens.
As a Share the Road Safely Partner you can demonstrate your commitment to making our highways and communities safer for all drivers and road users. By distributing Share the Road Safely information and participating in Share the Road Safely Program activities, you can help save lives and prevent crashes in your community.
Educators
The Share the Road Safely Program is a resource for educators to help others learn how to safely share the road with large trucks and buses. As an educator, you have the opportunity to introduce your students to the importance of highway safety and the hazards presented by large trucks and buses operating on the nation’s highways. You can instill safe driving habits and a positive attitude in future drivers, which can save lives and make our communities safer.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) believes that the more people know about how to share the road safely, the fewer injuries and fatalities will be caused by crashes with large trucks or buses. You can participate in the Share the Road Safely Program by organizing outreach activities, such as No-Zone demonstrations and distributing informational materials.
Supporting Materials
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has developed outreach materials to support the Share the Road Safely Program. To view these materials click on the links below. Many of these products are currently available for distribution.