If you are a new driver, taking a car out on the road is an experience that can sometimes be quite scary and maybe even dangerous. This is especially the case when traveling on highways alongside big trucks. While truck drivers don’t necessarily mean to cause damage or harm to other drivers on the road, unfortunately, accidents still do happen. Due to their bulky nature, it’s relatively harder for drivers to maneuver trucks on the road. But if you follow a few tips on how to drive around large trucks, you can ensure the safety of yourself, the truck driver as well as other users of the road.
Maintain a Safe Distance between Your Car and the Truck
One of the common mistakes that most car drivers make is that they drive too close to the truck, especially if they are right behind it. If you drive too close behind a truck, you might end up colliding with the truck since it is harder for them to brake. For this reason, it is recommended that you keep a safe distance of approximately the length of the truck rather than the length of your car. You need to be more careful while turning because most trucks need 55 feet to turn. Most accidents happen when an inner lane is used by the driver of a car while turning.
Avoid a Truck’s Blind Spots
Since trucks are extremely large, they tend to have more blind spots compared to cars. Not only that, but their blind spots are much larger too. Most accidents occur when an inattentive driver does not pay attention to these spots. So, it’s important to stay out of a truck’s blind spots to ensure you are driving safely around them.
The following are blind spots:
- At the wide lane on the driver’s side, going back till half the length of the truck
- At the two wide lanes on the right side, extending back till the end of the truck
- 20 ft at the front of the trailer
- 30 ft at the back of the trailer
Do Not Pass An 18 Wheeler
As mentioned above, all trucks are known to have their blind spots. But there’s nothing worse than being stuck behind a slow driving 18 wheeler, which is why most car drivers try their level best to pass them. However, if you see an 18-wheeler driving swiftly on the road with intentions of passing you, allow it to do so. Preventing an 18-wheeler from passing by staying in front of it usually results in fatal crashes, which is something you definitely want to avoid.
Give the Truck Time to Maneuver
If you see a wide turn ahead with the truck’s blinker on, give them some time to take the turn, and don’t try to pass them. Since they’re large and bulky, trucks tend to take wider turns at a slower pace than cars. In such instances, it is important to be patient. If you try to speed ahead while the truck is maneuvering, you’ll likely get in the truck’s way and possibly collide.
However, According to a Tampa semi truck accident lawyer, there are high chances of getting injured in truck accidents even when the car drivers are highly attentive. Moreover, it may even result in serious injuries that require long-term medication and rehabilitation. Therefore, you must speak with a lawyer to help you file the compensation and get the deserving amount.
Use Signals when Turning
Before you make a turn, make sure you turn on your indicator so that the truck driver behind you is aware of your intentions. Oftentimes truck drivers driving behind cars preempt the driver and attempt to pass the cars, but their blind spot hinders them from estimating how close or far they are from the vehicle. By turning on your signals, you ensure that such a situation doesn’t occur.
Follow all Driving Safety Precautions
This means wearing a seatbelt and driving under the speed limit. Wearing a seatbelt ensures maximum safety and security while you’re driving on the road. Moreover, it’s also illegal not to wear one while you’re in the driver’s seat. Research has shown that wearing a seatbelt diminishes the risk of grievous injury to passengers and drivers by 50%. It also reduces the risk of death by 45%. Similarly, driving under the speed limit is a key element of road safety, which is why it is essential to drive patiently, especially on highways and around large trucks.
If you’re driving right next to a large truck, you may become the cause of an accident if you’re not extra careful. By following the safety tips that we have mentioned above, such as keeping an adequate amount of distance between your car and the truck, and avoiding a truck’s blind spots, you can save yourself and other passengers on the road from injury or even death.
