Vehicles of all shapes and sizes have to share the road equally in order for everyone to stay safe. But for drivers of smaller cars, driving next to large trucks can sometimes be intimidating and nerve-wracking, making them forget some of the important aspects of on-the-road safety. To put your mind at ease and make sharing space with large trucks simpler, follow these safety tips from Reliable!
Safety Tips for Sharing the Road with Large Trucks
- Keep in mind different stopping times. As large trucks are heavier, it often takes them longer to come to a complete stop at a red light or in heavy traffic. Bear in mind that driving behind a large truck could mean slower speeds in anticipation of stopping and maintaining a greater distance between your vehicle and the back of the truck in front of you. If you are changing lanes in front of a large truck, give the truck driver at least three car lengths to adjust their speed as necessary.
- Stay out of trucks’ blind spots. Because of their sheer size, large trucks have many more blind spots than an average-sized vehicle. If you are driving in the boundaries of a blind spot, a large truck could easily turn into you or merge into your lane without even realizing you are there! Stay within the sight of the truck driver’s mirrors to prevent these kinds of accidents.
- Give trucks “breathing room.” For certain maneuvers, such as right-hand turns, large trucks need a lot of room to negotiate their way safely. Small vehicle drivers sometimes try to squeeze past a truck that has swung wide away from the curb as it attempts to make a turn, leaving them in a vulnerable and dangerous position. Let the truck in front of you complete its turn before trying to move past it.
- Play by the rules of the road. Aggressive and careless driving pose some of the biggest threats to road safety, whether you are sharing the road with large trucks or you are one of a few vehicles. Do not speed, merge without signaling, run red lights, or do anything else that might jeopardize your safety and that of other drivers.
By following these safety tips, you and other drivers can easily share the road with large trucks!
Reliable Contracting Company serves the following and surrounding counties: Annapolis, Queen Anne’s, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Howard, Prince George, St. Mary’s, Talbot, and Washington D.C.