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The bottom line is that the number of semi-trucks other drivers will share the road with is expected to increase over the next decade. Therefore, understanding truck accident safety has become more crucial than ever. In light of this reality, it is prudent to learn the best and safest way to do so…
Remember that the semi-truck driver must be able to see you to avoid a collision! Semi-trucks are no different than other vehicles – they come with blind spots. Semi-trucks try to compensate by adding mirrors strategically placed around the cab and trailer. But YOU should operate from the notion that – if you cannot see the driver in a mirror – then he cannot see you.
Do not tailgate a semi-truck. Sudden stops don’t give you enough time to avoid a collision—in some cases, even under-riding the tractor-trailer’s carriage and shearing off the top of your vehicle.
Do not linger beside a semi-truck in the passing lane. Better to let them pass you or slow down a bit to ensure a fair amount of room between your vehicles.
Use your headlights to signal to a passing truck that he (or she) has enough room between you and him to move safely back into the lane in front of you. He will do the same for you.
Semi-trucks need extra turning room – so be sure to give them the room and time it takes to turn corners.
When a tractor-trailer comes into contact with a passenger car, the likelihood of the occupants of the car being injured is pretty high. When 80,000 pounds hits 5000 pounds–the smaller vehicle gets crushed, it’s a simple matter of physics.
Staying safe on the highways means being aware of your surroundings and being particularly cautious around large trucks. Big rig drivers have excellent vision in front of them due to the height of the vehicle, but they have very poor visibility in their blind spots on the sides and rear.
Greg Baumgartner is a Houston truck wreck lawyer and the founder of the Baumgartner Law Firm.
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