If you’ve ever felt a little uneasy driving alongside a large truck on the freeway, it’s not for nothing. Large trucks only make up about 4% of vehicles on the road, but according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, single-vehicle crashes with trucks made up 22% of all fatal crashes and 14% of all injury crashes in 2016.
Trucks are significantly larger than most cars on the road and are more difficult for drivers to maneuver. Truck drivers can also be fatigued or negligent, making them even more dangerous to your safety. However, by implementing the following tips when you drive, you can reduce the risk of a large truck crash.
Beware of blind spots
Because of their size, trucks have blind spots on all four sides of their vehicle. For this reason, it’s essential that you maintain your own visibility when you’re driving near large trucks – especially when merging or passing.
A good rule of thumb for driving near large trucks is if you can’t see the driver in their side mirror, they can’t see you either.
Keep your distance
In addition to avoiding blind spots, it’s crucial to allow a safe distance between you and a truck to account for slower stopping times. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, whereas the average car weighs between 3,000 to 4,000 pounds.
A truck traveling 65 mph will require the length of two football fields to come to a complete stop – and that’s in ideal driving conditions. If they’re carrying a heavy load, driving faster or weather conditions are poor, they’ll need even more space for a safe stopping distance.
Stay vigilant in work zones
Work zones can be especially dangerous when driving near a truck. Because of factors like stop-and-go traffic, narrowed or closed lines and construction workers, almost 30 percent of all work zone crashes involved large trucks.
Be on high alert when driving in work zones and be sure to maintain visibility and keep a safe distance from trucks in these areas.
Some accidents are unavoidable, but there are simple steps you can take to make the roads safer for yourself and others. Save yourself the costly trouble of a truck accident by being mindful of large trucks on the road.