The Eight Safety Tips for Driving Safely Around Trucks
Still trying to figure out how to approach trucks in traffic? Here’s what you need to know.
Regardless of your experience, driving in the midst of semi-trucks and heavy motor vehicles can be dangerous. In the event of a collision, the average passenger car almost always sustains the brunt of the impact.
But that’s not the only thing to worry about when driving near trucks.
Due to their size, they require more space and reaction time to respond. Furthermore, blind spots make driving more difficult for truck drivers.
The last thing they need is people who don’t understand this and drive recklessly around trucks. To improve your driving skills when you encounter large vehicles on the road, check out the following eight tips.
How to Drive Safely Around Trucks – The Eight Tips
Tip #1. Avoid the Truck’s Blind Spot
The large vehicle blind spot is always bigger than that of a regular passenger car. Physics dictates that the larger the vehicle, the larger the blind spot.
That means driving safely around trucks requires the average driver to avoid the blind spot by either slowing down or moving in front of the larger vehicle.
On the driver’s side, the blind spot can extend an entire lane to the side and at least half a trailer to the back. Keep in mind that the left side’s blind spot is larger, covering up to two lanes and often exceeding the length of the trailer.
Tip #2. Increase Your Following Distance
One of the top safety tips for driving safely around trucks is to keep a longer driving distance from trucks. Generally, four seconds is enough between a typical passenger car and a large commercial vehicle.
The reason behind this is simple: it gives you enough time to hit the brake.
Drivers of big rigs can’t see well enough behind them to adequately assess distance. So, keeping a safe distance helps prevent collisions when trucks roll backward or come to a stop.
Tip #3. Pass on the Appropriate Side
Safe passing is a basic fundamental of driving. But when driving around trucks, this becomes even more vital.
Remember that passing a truck requires additional care.
Unlike passenger cars, large vehicles can’t brake as readily. Truck drivers need sufficient time to assess the situation and hit the brake to slow down.
This can spell trouble for the average driver who isn’t practising safe passing. That’s why it’s best to always move ahead of a truck from the driver’s side so the driver can see you.
But before you attempt to pass, always signal in advance. Then, maintain a consistent speed until merging back in the lane.
Driving safely around trucks also involves knowing what to do when you find yourself in any position. That means when the shoe is on the other foot as you’re being passed by a truck driver, you’ll want to slow down and give the larger vehicle enough space.
Tip #4. Allow Enough Room to Turn
One of the staples of driving safely around trucks is to give truck drivers enough room to make a turn.
As you may know, a truck requires additional space to turn safely. That’s why all road users should pay attention to a truck’s turn signals. So, try to slow down and avoid passing a truck when it’s turning.
Tip #5. Give Yourself More Time
Before attempting to turn or switch lanes when near a truck, remember to use your signal. The large blind spots cause truck drivers to have slower reaction times and large vehicles need more space to manoeuver.
As such, it’s critical to allow truck drivers enough time to notice and respond to your intended move. In doing so, you can also give yourself more time to assess the traffic, distance, and road conditions.
Tip #6. Merge Lanes Wisely
Drivers who aren’t sure about how to drive safely around trucks often assume that merging lanes is the same as passing or moving alongside a regular vehicle.
However, you have to pay more attention in this case.
That said, experienced drivers understand the value of communication by light. And truckers flash their lights to give other vehicles the go-ahead or to signal that they’re about to merge.
Another good practice is to avoid merging in front of a truck after passing until you can see the larger vehicle in your rear-view mirror.
Tip #7. Dim the Bright Lights
Larger vehicles are designed with much bigger mirrors, which have the side effect of enhancing the brightness of headlights on the road.
It’s common courtesy and safe practice to dim your lights – use the low-beam setting when coming up from behind to avoid blinding truck drivers.
Tip #8. Exercise Safe Positioning
With massive trucks, tyre blowouts are more common than you think. That’s why when you’re driving at high speeds, staying behind or at the side of a large truck or semi can be dangerous.
Truck drivers can lose control when a tyre blows out. So, you need to either keep a safe distance behind or pass safely ahead of a truck. Avoid driving side by side as much as possible.
The same can be said when talking about drifting.
Heavy motor vehicles carrying long trailers are known to drift. But it doesn’t mean that the driver isn’t paying attention. Rather, it’s an effect of wind and drag. This is particularly the case with trailers that are not carrying a full load.
That’s another reason to avoid driving side-by-side and allow sufficient space for truck drivers to react.
Be a Responsible Driver
It’s always best to drive responsibly, whether or not there’s a truck on the road with you.
That said, learning how to drive safely around trucks is incredibly important. Your manoeuvres, timing, and distance judging should be different from driving around passenger cars.
The size, power, and limited visibility of large vehicles force other drivers to account for it accordingly when trailing or passing. But when you understand how a large vehicle operates, it becomes easier to size up various traffic scenarios.
Appropriate signalling, patient driving, alertness, and defensive driving skills come to the forefront if you want to drive safely around large vehicles.
If you’re interested in becoming a trucker yourself or would like to learn more about large vehicle specifications, visit Truck Dealers Australia.