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Large trucks do
not operate like cars. They are so large that accelerating, slowing
down, and stopping takes more time and much more space than any other
vehicle on the road. They have large blind spots and make wide turns.
They are not as manoeuvrable. If they come upon an unexpected traffic
situation, there may not be enough room for them to avoid a collision.
Research reveals that passenger car drivers made mistakes in 70 percent
of the fatal crashes involving large trucks.
While everyone
is entitled to make a mistake, colliding with a truck could be your
last one.
Trucks are important
to the economy. They transport products that are critical to life and
those that make life a lot more comfortable. However, as a motorist,
sharing the road with large trucks can make you feel very uncomfortable.
Protect yourself
and your passengers by learning how to share the road safely with large
vehicles
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5 Ways
to Share the Road Safely with Trucks.
Don't Cut In Front of Trucks.
Trucks leave extra room behind the vehicles they
follow because it can take them twice as long to stop.
If you move into that space and have to brake suddenly, you
cut the truck's available stopping distance in half placing
you and your passengers in danger. Anticipate the flow of traffic
before pulling in front of trucks.
More than 60 percent of fatal truck crashes involve impacts
with the front of the truck. Trucks are not equipped with the
same type of energy-absorbing bumpers as cars. When a car is
hit from behind by a truck the results are too often deadly.
Stay Out of the "No-Zone."
Watch out for the blind spots, or the No-Zone, around large
trucks and buses.
Because of a truck's size, truck drivers must react faster than
car drivers in emergency situations. If faced with a potential
front-end collision, the truck driver may turn into your lane
not knowing you are there. Truck drivers have huge blind spots
around the front, back and sides of the truck. So be safe and
don't hang out in the No-Zone.
Avoid
Tailgating.
Large trucks are almost as wide as your lane of travel. Driving
too close behind one prevents you from reacting to changing
traffic conditions.
If you are too close to the rear of a truck and there is a slow
down on the highway, debris in the road, or a crash, you won't
notice it until it is a braking emergency. If there is a problem
ahead, your first hint will be the truck's brake lights. But
if you happen to be distracted or fatigued, you may not be able
to react in time. If you hit the rear of a truck you'll quickly
learn that trucks are unforgiving. There are no impact-absorbing
bumpers and the metal bumpers they do have may not align with
yours. So be smart and give yourself plenty of room.
Wear Your Seat Belt.
Buckling your seat belt is the single most important thing you
can do to save your life in a crash.
A seat belt will keep you in your seat and help you maintain
control of your vehicle. The safest place for kids is in the
backseat, buckled up or in a car seat. So, be safe and always
buckle up! Children under 12 should ideally sit in the
back regardless.
Beware of Highway Shoulders.
If you break down or pull over on the highway shoulder, it is
important to understand the position you and your passengers
are in. When a parked vehicle on a highway shoulder is struck
by a moving car, the damage suffered by the parked car is severe.
When the moving vehicle is a truck, weighing as much as 25 cars,
the result is tragic.
Avoid highway shoulders whenever possible. Try to exit from
the highway, even if it costs you a tire or rim. If you cannot
exit, consider whether you are safer inside or away from the
vehicle. Your decision could save your life.
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