Driving around large trucks can be intimidating, especially if you drive a smaller vehicle. Tractor-trailers, tanker trucks, and haulers are large, wide, and more difficult to maneuver. They also have more blind spots than smaller vehicles.
While driving generally follows the same basic guidelines, there are some things you can do when driving around large trucks to be a little safer. Put together by a truck accident lawyer, here are our best recommendations:
1. Avoid Blind Spots
We all know that large trucks have blind spots. The key for smaller vehicles is knowing where they are and how to avoid them. The blind spots you need to be aware of include:
- The area on the driver’s side of the truck one lane wide, extending about halfway down the trailer.
- The area on the passenger side two lanes wide, extending just behind the trailer.
- The 20 feet directly in front of the truck.
- The 30 feet directly behind the truck.
- The area parallel to the driver’s door.
2. Pass with Care
You should always practice care when passing another vehicle. But special care should be paid when passing a large truck. Large trucks cannot slow down or stop quickly, which means you are at risk of being hit from behind if you crowd the truck or pass too close to the front.
Another part of passing with care is using your turn signal well in advance of your pass. The truck driver needs time to see your blinker and adjust their speed if necessary.
3. Allow Plenty of Time
When you are changing lanes or merging into traffic, make sure you allow plenty of time between your vehicle and large trucks on the road. Once again, make sure you use your turn signal well in advance. Also, you should avoid merging in front of a truck if traffic ahead is slow or stopped.
4. Allow Plenty of Distance
When you are driving behind a large truck, make sure you allow plenty of distance between you and truck. When you are close behind a truck, the driver cannot see you. Also, if the truck driver has to suddenly slow down or stop, you could hit the truck from behind. When a smaller vehicle rear-ends a large truck, the result is often catastrophic.
Another reason to allow plenty of distance is that sometimes truck tires blow out. When that happens, large chunks of rubber and metal can fly into the traffic lane. You could suffer damage to your vehicle and could be injured.
5. Remember Wide Turns
Remember that large trucks make much wider turns that smaller vehicles. Trucks often need to swing left before making a right-hand turn. They may also need to turn from the middle lane, rather than the lane closest to the turn. Be aware of this and watch for turn signals on any large trucks near you on the road.
6. Avoid Distractions
Distracted driving is a leading cause of auto accidents, including truck accidents. When you are distracted, you run the risk of driving in an unsafe way. You run the risk of swerving into other lanes, hitting traffic or a truck from behind, missing turn signals, and other hazards.
Be Alert and Aware on the Road
As you can see, there are things you can do to drive more safely around large trucks. Many of these tips discussed above are applicable to drivers of any type of vehicle, on any type of roadway. Most important is to be alert and aware when you drive near large trucks. Practice a certain combination of defensive and confident driving.
Victims of truck accidents often report high emotions after an accident occurs. Truck accident clients often report feeling intimidated and overwhelmed by large trucks. Many feel uncomfortable driving around these behemoths of the road. Unfortunately, trucks are common on roadways throughout the United States. Because of that, it is important that all drivers be aware of the dangers of driving near large trucks, as well as tips for driving safely.
