Sharing the road with truck drivers can be tricky at times, especially in heavy traffic. Tractor trailer drivers follow federal safety regulations to minimize truck-related collisions from occurring on roadways, but drivers of regular passenger vehicles should also take precaution and follow safety tips to help ensure that the roads remain safe.
How to Help Prevent Trucking Collisions
According to the National Traffic Safety Institute, more than 200,000 collisions occur each year involving at least one motor vehicle and one commercial truck. In order to help reduce this number of accidents and be proactive when it comes to accident prevention, the following safety tips are recommended:
- Watch for blind spots. Large trucks need ample room when making turns. Their blind spots are larger than that of regular automobiles, causing visibility problem. Their trucks often have a decal stating that if you cannot see the truck driver in the truck’s side-view mirror, the truck driver most likely cannot see you, either. Stay visible. Keep a safe, four-car distance to help avoid drifting into their “no zone” area.
- Do not squeeze into a space. When a truck is making a turn, do not speed up to bypass it or try to squeeze into the space next to it to turn. There is simply not enough room when dealing with a vehicle as large as a commercial truck to maneuver as safely as with other vehicles.
- Wait for the right time to pass. It is much different passing a large truck rather than a regular passenger vehicle. Ensure that you can maintain a constant speed when passing, instead of racing ahead and pulling immediately in front of the truck. Do not attempt to pass around curves or when approaching hills when on two-lane roadways.
- Do not cut in front. Immediately switching lanes in front of a truck or not giving a truck enough space when passing may result in a situation of emergency braking. Keep in mind that trucks take longer to slow down or stop than regular vehicles. A sudden stop can cause a serious accident involving multiple cars. It is best to assess traffic and space between vehicles before choosing to pass a commercial driver on the road.
- Avoid aggressive driving. Due to the size and weight of cargo that commercial drivers carry, they are subject to certain speed zones. Although you may want to keep with the flow of traffic, exceeding the speed limit to pass a commercial truck or driving in their blind spots has the potential of causing an accident.
Prioritize Your Safety
The basic rule of the road is the same for everyone: be respectful of other drivers. When you follow these safety tips and understand the challenges that large truck drivers face, it will make it easier and safer to navigate the roadways.
A collision with a commercial truck can result in serious injuries or in some cases, death. Our law firm wants to help keep drivers safe from harm, and we do our part by urging caution and by representing accident victims. We have secured million-dollar verdicts for our clients, and we can fight for you, too.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, contact the Truck Accident Attorneys today for a free case evaluation. There is no obligation.