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Safe Driving Tips Around Trucks
Washington, D.C., Maryland & Virginia
When you are sharing the road with a large commercial truck, you cannot treat it like a regular passenger car. Because of their size and weight, trucks are unable to make sudden stops or maneuvers, and they have much larger blind spots than other types of vehicles. If motorists do not adjust their driving behavior accordingly, the consequences can be devastating.
Most of us are not taught how to safely interact with a tractor-trailer on the road. With so many truck accidents occurring because of negligence on the part of the driver or trucking company, it is all the more important that motorists keep in mind some defensive driving procedures whenever a truck comes into view. Using extra caution around these massive vehicles can save lives, including your own.
How to Safely Share the Road with a Truck
Here are a few tips for drivers to keep in mind when coming across tractor-trailers on the road:
- Only change lanes if both of the truck’s headlights are visible in your rearview mirror.
- Never cut directly in front of a truck. When passing, leave a gap of at least 10 car lengths between you and the truck.
- If possible, try to pass a truck on the left. A trucker’s blind spot on the right often runs the entire length of the trailer, and can extend out three full lanes.
- If you are following a truck and cannot see the face of the driver in the truck’s side mirrors, this means the truck driver cannot see you.
- At intersections, allow trucks enough space to maneuver. Some turns require trucks to take up additional lanes.
- Do not linger beside a truck in another lane. Pass quickly in order to make sure they can see you and are aware of you.
The most important thing to remember is that trucks need to be able to see you, and they need to be provided with enough room to properly maneuver. If you position your car between two trucks in a lane, or fail to maintain a constant speed while passing, you risk being undetectable on truck mirrors, greatly increasing the odds of an accident.
When driving in dangerous weather, such as heavy rain or snow, try to keep an even more significant length of space between you and the back end of a truck, since dirt and water from the truck’s tires can spray onto your windshield and reduce your visibility. If a truck is passing you, slow down as much as it is safe, trying to maintain at least 20 car lengths in front of you.
If you take steps to protect yourself on the road, you can avoid becoming the next victim of a truck accident caused by a fatigued driver or a faulty commercial vehicle.
If you have been injured in a truck accident in Washington D.C., Virginia, or Maryland, our experienced truck accident attorneys are here to help. Please contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.
