Accidents involving gigantic trucks can be devastating. Due to the colossal weight and size of commercial trucks, any accident leads to the victim suffering severe injuries and in worst cases, death. For this reason, it’s crucial for motorists of smaller vehicles to drive safely around trucks to prevent accidents.
Here’s a list of 5 ways to drive safely near trucks and avert deadly collisions:
1. Give the truck ample space to move freely
Driving too closely to gigantic commercial vehicles puts you at an increased risk of accident that could be initiated due to innumerable factors:
• Sudden brake: If a massive truck has to brake suddenly, the vehicle behind it may tip over or slide under the truck.
• Adverse weather conditions: Strong winds may lead to truck rollovers.
• Tire blowouts: Tire blowouts can turn out to be dangerous for vehicles moving close to these extensive vehicles. Remnants of the tire can suddenly tear and hit the windshield.
2. Use extra caution when passing a commercial truck:
It’s important to remember that large trucks cannot maneuver or stop as quickly as other smaller vehicles. On the contrary, truck drivers need time to react and adjust their speed. Here’s a are some of the points to remember when passing a large truck:
• Do not pass a truck when going uphill or downhill
• If there’s a truck passing you, stay on the right to ensure that you’re visible to the driver
• Always try to minimize the time you are on the blind spot
• Never attempt to merge into the lane in front of the truck until the time you see the truck driver clearly on the mirror
3. Stay away from blind spots
Gigantic trucks have more blind spots than other car drivers. For enhanced safety, you need to stay out of the following areas because it may be difficult for commercial drivers to see your car:
• 20 feet in front of the truck
• 30 feet behind the truck
4. Provide clear signals
Before you decide to change lanes or pass by a truck, it’s important to give clear signals so that the truck driver can easily anticipate your actions. A sudden lane change may not provide the truck driver enough time to prevent the collision.
5. Avoid distractions
Distracted driving puts any driver at an increased risk. Stay away from activities that take away your focus off the road including cellphones, food, drink or noisy passengers. Distracted driving is one of the major causes of collisions, every year.
Despite adopting all the precautionary measures stated above, devastating accidents still occur. If you’ve been injured in a trucking collision, get in touch with a seasoned attorney. The veteran car accident lawyers in Alexandria LA at the Law Offices of L. Clayton Burges offer a free, no obligation consultation. Our auto accident attorneys in Alexandria are skilled and have the right resources to resolve complicated cases with ease. We have a team of licensed legal representatives who work on a contingency fee basis which means that we charge a fee only when we resolve a case successfully.
