Sharing the road with a large truck
Driving on the road and sharing it with a large truck is quite different from sharing the road with a passenger car. Just the sight of a large truck around makes drivers grab their wheel tighter because they pose a danger. These trucks can make you adjust your normal road behavior. Collisions between passenger cars and large trucks happen often, and most times, the smaller car comes off worse. The injuries can be devastating, leaving individuals with physical and emotional scars that endure forever.
If you or your loved ones were in a truck accident, you deserve compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and all the pain you have experienced. Find a lawsuit lawyer for truck accidents to help you seek compensation. You are more likely to receive compensation with legal representative on your case.
Large Trucks have limitations
Drivers of smaller cars need to understand that these big trucks have limitations. Large trucks have blind spots caused by a limited view. There are so many parts in front, behind, and on the sides that the truck driver cannot see because of these blind spots. Also, due to the size and weight of large trucks, they take longer to brake while occupying more space on the road. This situation can result in a dangerous road accident. Large trucks take so much space to make a turn, and that’s another danger to factor in. Worst of all, the drivers are too fatigued to be driving. Truck drivers work long hours to make ends meet and get on the road without being fit to drive.
However we may feel about large trucks, they are essential for business and transportation across the country. It is impossible to avoid them, but here is how you can keep safe while sharing the road with large trucks.
7 Tips For Safe Driving When Sharing The Road With Large Trucks
- Give them their space
- Slow down
- Avoid driving next to large trucks
- Always use your signals
- Dim your lights in the night around big trucks
- Don’t try to cut them off
- Avoid distractions
Give them their space; Avoid tailgating large trucks. Trucks need more braking distance, so if one is ahead of you, make sure to put enough space between you and them. Give them the space they need to turn at intersections. Keep your distance and give them all the space you can afford to give. It will afford you time to react if something happens. Drive defensively when you are around big trucks and be prepared to react to their moves.
Slow down; Don’t speed around a big truck. Slow and drive at a safe speed to avoid ghastly collisions. If a truck is trying to move ahead of you, slow down and let them pass. Keep your eyes firmly fixed on your mirror to understand the situation.
Avoid driving next to large trucks; Don’t drive next to large trucks and trailers. They make wide turns that can endanger you if you are too close to them.
Always use your signals; Truck drivers need more time to maneuver, so you should turn on your signals early enough for a heads up. Don’t spring any unexpected movement on large trucks as they can take time to react. Within that period, there could be severe damages.
Dim your lights in the night around big trucks; Use low-beam headlights when driving around large trucks. They can blind the driver or reflect off his mirror and lead to a dangerous accident.
Don’t try to cut them off; It feels like this doesn’t need to be said, but a huge amount of fatal trucking accidents result from passenger vehicles striking large trucks from behind. Never try to cut off or cut in on a truck. It is dangerous when you try it with smaller cars, and the results are much worse with larger trucks.
Avoid distractions; Keep your eyes firmly fixed on the road when there are large trucks on the road. Avoid distracted driving because the result can be morbid. When driving behind the wheel avoid any distractions like texts, phone calls, and eating. These little distractions can lead to big collisions.
Space! It is all about space!
You cannot avoid large trucks on the road, but you can prevent collisions by simply giving them enough space. Keeping the distance between your car and any large truck will allow enough reaction time. If the truck is ahead of you, watch when it passes any stationary object and make sure you pass that object in five seconds. That is enough space and time that can save a life!