Driving near semi-trucks on the highway can pose more risks than driving around smaller vehicles. Because of their large size, semi-trucks can cause catastrophic accidents. However, there are steps drivers can take to stay safer when driving behind semi-trucks, such as keeping a safe distance, passing on the left, and staying alert.
Knowing what to do when driving behind a semi-truck could make yourself and the passengers in your vehicle safer. Taking steps to avoid an accident can save countless lives.
What to Do to Stay Safe When Driving Behind a Semi-Truck
There are steps you can take to give yourself the best chance at avoiding a truck accident. Taking these steps can give you and your passengers, as well as others around you, a safer roadway.
Below is an overview of what to do while driving behind a semi-truck.
Pass on the Left
If you’re behind a semi-truck and want to pass them, you must pass them safely. The safest way to pass a semi-truck is on the left side. Since the truck driver sits on the left, they have a better view on that side. When vehicles pass on the right, a semi-truck could miss them in their mirrors and merge into a lane with another vehicle.
Other tips to stay safe when passing a semi-truck includes:
- Keep as much distance as possible between you and the truck
- Only pass under safe conditions
- Use your turn signal before you pass them and after if you change lanes
- Ensure there is enough room if you change back into the right lane after passing the semi-truck
Following proper safety protocols when passing a semi-truck can keep you safer on the highway.
Stay Alert
When driving behind a semi-truck, you must stay alert. Make sure you avoid any distractions that could cause you to take your eyes off the road. If the truck driver stops suddenly, you might not have time to adjust to avoid hitting them.
Tips for staying alert while driving behind a semi-truck driver, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), include:
- Stay off your cell phone. If you need to send a text or dial a phone number, wait until the vehicle has stopped.
- Don’t eat in the car. Eating can take your hands off the wheel and your eyes off the road, lowering your alertness.
It’s important to stay alert when driving at all times, but especially when driving around large trucks. You can stay safer on the roads by paying attention to the traffic in front of you and the road conditions.
Look For the Truck Driver in the Mirrors
The best way to know the truck driver can see you is to look in their mirrors. If you can see them in the mirror, they can likely see you. Especially when passing a semi-truck, ensure you can see them in their mirrors.
Keep a Safe Distance
When driving behind a semi-truck, keeping a safe distance can make you safer. Truck drivers can do unpredictable things. Having a good distance between you and the truck gives you more time to adjust your driving. If you drive too close to the truck, you have a higher likelihood of causing an accident.
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Dangerous Acts to Avoid When Driving Behind Semi-Trucks
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has provided guidance on how to stay safe around semi-trucks. In addition, passenger vehicles can take action to help avoid crashes.
Dangerous acts the FMCSA states you should avoid when driving behind semi-trucks include:
- Don’t drive in the truck driver’s blind spot for too long. Because of their large size, truck drivers have many blind spots. Avoid staying in a known blind spot for a long time.
- Avoid driving too close or tailgating the semi-trucks. First of all, the truck driver cannot see you when you drive directly behind their truck. Secondly, if the semi-truck driver breaks or turns, you won’t have as much time to stop. This could increase your chances of crashing into the back of the truck.
By avoiding these dangerous acts, you can keep yourself and passengers safer while on the roads.
Were You in a Semi-Truck Crash? Our Attorneys Can Help
If you or a loved one got into an accident with a semi-truck, you could use the help of a truck accident attorney. Our team has handled many truck accident cases at Badar Scott Injury Lawyers. As a result, we know how to help our clients get the compensation they need. We also know what drivers should do when driving behind a semi-truck. Therefore, we can prove you drove safely if the truck driver caused the accident.
Contact us today to speak with an attorney for a free consultation. During the consultation, we can learn about your truck accident. We can also provide information about your legal options. When you choose our attorneys to take on your case, you can rest assured we can take care of the legal matters.
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