Most car and light-truck drivers do not drive tractor-trailers and may not be aware of the driving challenges truckers face. Here are a few things truck drivers want other drivers to know to improve roadway safety for everyone.
Facts About Operating A Truck
Trucks use air brakes, which differ significantly from a car’s hydraulic brakes. When a trucker hits the brakes, air needs to build up and reach every area of the truck before braking kicks in, amounting to a slight lag time. That increases a truck’s stopping distance and time, as does its weight, which can be as much as 20 times more than a car’s.
Give truckers the space they need to operate safely. Tractor-trailers need room to make right-hand turns. If a truck has its right turn signal on but is veering to the left, the driver is creating the angle to successfully navigate the turn, not inviting the car behind it to squeeze by on the right.
A truck’s blind spots are larger than you might realize due to the length and height of the truck, and the lack of a center rearview mirror. Don’t follow too closely, and don’t meander alongside one. If you are passing, do it quickly.
When merging onto a highway, vehicles on the on-ramp must yield—even if it means coming to a complete stop. Truckers will try to move over one lane if it’s safe to do so to accommodate a merging vehicle, but it’s not always possible. Do not cut in front of them.
Truck Accidents Can Be Avoided With Safe Driving
The goal is for trucks and cars to safely coexist on the roadways. That’s more easily done if everyone is on the same page. If you or a loved one have been involved in a truck accident fill out a contact form here or call (404) 474-0804 to speak with our attorneys.