Share the Road With Semi Trucks
Millions of passenger vehicles share the roads with semi trucks, and each day there are collisions between the cars and trucks. Many of these collisions could be avoided if the drivers of the passenger vehicles followed some simple concepts that make it easier to drive near semi trucks. Here are some tips to learn how to share the road with semi trucks.
Steps
- Drive so the driver of the semi truck can see you. Just like in any other vehicle, there are blind spots for drivers in semi trucks. One good rule of thumb is that if you can't see the driver's mirrors, he probably can't see you. Avoid getting too close to the rear of a big truck, as this is another blind spot for the driver.
- Give the driver plenty of room to stop. Because of the heavy loads transported by semi trucks, they often require extra distance to come to a full stop at an intersection or stop light. Make it easier for the driver by resisting the temptation to dart into a gap in traffic in front of him or her. The gap is probably being left there on purpose by the driver in order to have a safe distance in which to stop.
- Allow the truck ample space and time to back up. Even though the intersection or roadway may be blocked and you're in a hurry, try to exercise patience as the driver attempts to back up into an alley, driveway or other space. Consider how difficult and challenging it may be to fit a truck and a long trailer into a tight space.
- Pass quickly, especially if you are going downhill and a truck is behind you. Truckers use downhill momentum to gain extra speed so they can quickly make it up the next hill. Otherwise, the truck slows down and has difficulty making it up a hill when loaded with cargo. By passing quickly, you are letting the trucker take advantage of the increased speed he's built up from the hill.
- Let the truck in front of you if the driver is attempting to change lanes or merge onto the roadway. If you speed up and block the truck, you might put yourself in his/her blind spot, and he/she might crash into you. And either way, you'll probably end up overtaking that truck shortly anyway
- Signal to a truck driver that his truck has entirely passed your car by flashing your headlights (high beams). Just a quick flash is all that is needed. It's difficult for a truck driver to determine if his truck has cleared your vehicle. By giving him this visual cue, he may merge back into the driving lane with confidence.
- Pay attention to a turning truck, and make extra room, if necessary. Large semi trucks require additional room to turn corners. Do not intentionally drive into the path the truck needs to make a corner.
