Five rules for automobile drivers sharing roads with trucks

Certainly, some people are nervous driving around trucks on the road. But if you know how to drive safely around trucks, it might ease your nerves a bit.

No. 1: Never pass on the right, and pass quickly. When passing a truck, make sure you do so quickly because trucks have large blind spots on both sides; as a rule of thumb, if you can’t see the drivers, they can’t see you. Also, be sure you always pass a truck in the left lane of a highway. The right side of the truck has a larger blind spot, which increases the risk of an accident.

No. 2: Never cut them off. When passing or merging in front of a truck, make sure the driver can see you move in front of the truck. If you get in front of the truck and are too close (like when you pass a car), the driver will not know you are there because he or she won’t be able to see you over the front of the cab.

No. 3: Don’t tailgate. Since there are no back windows on a truck, truck drivers don’t know you are behind them—so leave extra room when driving behind a truck. Another reason to leave extra space is if another car cuts off a truck and the driver tries to stop quickly, you will have more time to react to avoid hitting the truck.

No. 4: Stay alert and anticipate. Even highways have hills, and while most cars can maintain speed going up them, trucks can’t. Anticipate their slow-down to avoid the need to slam on your brakes or cut sharply into the passing lane, both of which can cause accidents with
other motorists.

No. 5: Cut them some slack. Merging or changing lanes and turning can be difficult for trucks, so don’t try to push past trucks trying to change lanes or merge. Instead, slow down and let them in; flash your lights to let them know you are leaving them room to move over. Also, don’t try to undercut trucks trying to turn as they have a wider turn radius compared to other automobiles.

Even if you follow all the rules of the road and keep all these tips in mind when you are driving around trucks, accidents can happen. Give us a call today. We can review your automobile policy now to make sure you have the necessary coverage in the event that you are involved in an automobile accident later.