All across America, thousands of semi-trucks are on the road every day. In fact, the number of semi-trucks and semi-trailers in this country are in the millions. It is incredibly common for you to come into contact with them when you hit the roads. Semi tricks are both large and heavy. While their size allows them to haul a lot of cargo, it can also make them a possible hazard on the road. With a few precautions, you can safely share the road with semi-trucks.
How-to: Share the Road with Semi-Trucks: Defensive Driving
Blind Spots
All vehicles have blind spots. These are areas that the driver can not directly see. However, due to their size, semi-trucks have many large blind spots. These include directly behind, in front of, and beside the truck. On their own, truck drivers are unable to see 30 feet behind them on 20 feet directly in front of them. They also are unable to see vehicles in certain areas to their left and right. In order to safely share the road with semi trucks, it is important to remember that if you can not see a semi truck’s mirrors, the driver can not see you. Truck drivers are often on the road for long distances. They could be tired or distracted, which may cause them to drift or swerve on the road. Keep this in mind and do not linger in their blind spots.
Tires
Semi-trucks put a lot of wear and tear on their tires. On top of that, these tires have to move a lot of weight and travel long distances. This increases their chances of rupturing. If a tire is under or over-inflated, the risk of it popping goes up as well. These tires are much larger and heavier than standard vehicle tires. The tire could fly into the air if one of their tires blow. This could strike a vehicle nearby, or present a hazard on the road. To help you safely share the road with semi trucks, do not linger near a truck’s tire area. Also, be on the lookout for tire debris that could be left from a tire blowout. This will give you extra time to react and avoid hitting it.
Safe Distance
When you share the road with semi trucks, make sure to keep a safe following distance. If you are too close, not only do you risk being in a driver’s blind spot, but it increases your chance of a dangerous accident. The height of a truck’s trailer is the perfect height for part of a vehicle to get stuck under. This could end up being deadly. Make sure you give yourself enough space to properly brake or come to a full stop if needed.