Every experienced driver knows it's important to be cautious and patient when you approach a big truck on the road, but what most motorists don't know is just how dangerous it is to drive next to one. One professional truck driver spoke out about the all-too-common driving mistakes he sees on the road — and his tips could save your life. Driving directly next to a tractor-trailer can be fatal, according to one Reddit user and veteran truck driver who goes by "stpp." In fact, the driver, who claims to have driven trucks for more than 22 years and logged more than 1 million miles on the road, referred to the area next to the truck as "the kill zone" and explained why it should be avoided as much as possible. "Do not (and I can't stress this enough) ride alongside a truck, ever," the driver wrote in the Life Pro Tips section of Reddit. "If the truck loses control or has to change lanes quickly, you're going to get crushed because the truck has nowhere else to go." Cars often get stuck behind other vehicles that don't pass trucks quickly enough, and in the case that the driver has to move suddenly or avoid an accident, the car stuck next to it will be in danger. If you have to pass a truck, do it as quickly as possible. The longer you stay beside the truck, the more likely you are to experience problems. The driver also warned about tire blowouts, which occur more frequently than you might expect. "It's exactly like hearing a bomb go off, and sometimes the tire exits the truck with such force that it will knock a car off the road," he wrote. The impact from a tire blowout could cause you or the truck driver to lose control of your vehicles, which could lead to swerving and collisions. If you see a truck experience a tire blowout, stay back and create space between your vehicle and the truck. Pass it quickly only when you know it's safe.If you're still not convinced of the dangers associated with driving near these large vehicles, the truck driver on Reddit advised car drivers to take note of skid marks next time they're on a highway — they serve as an important warning. " the areas where you know a wreck took place. Someone got hurt where you see that— and it can happen to you," he wrote.He hopes car drivers will pass his warning along to their friends. "I just hope you take note of the roads when you're on them in the future," he wrote. "Pass this sort of thing along to your friends. Perhaps it will save some of you one day." If we all remember to avoid lingering next to trucks, everyone on the road will be safer.(h/t Life Hacker)