Tips for Driving Safely Around Trucks

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are serious and often fatal to drivers in passenger cars. In 2017, over 4,000 victims died as a result of truck accidents. Although truck drivers can face fatalities, other people on the road are much more likely to have fatal accidents. There are several reasons why a truck accident may happen that is the sole responsibility of the truck driver or company. We cannot control the driving of others, but taking precautions around trucks can save your life.

Truck drivers and their vehicles go through long stretches of work. If a vehicle is poorly maintained, it can cause an accident that is completely out of the driver’s control. There are work limits for truck drivers to help eliminate fatigue on the road. However, there are often pressures from companies to fulfill a shipment within required times. These are cases where the truck driver or company would be negligent, and if an accident happened, the fault would be on them. These tips will help prevent accidents altogether and may eliminate your responsibility.

Blind Spots: Due to the massive size of some trucks, they have equally large blind spots. Staying out of these blind spots and merging responsibility will allow truck drivers to be aware of others on the road. It is best to stay at a minimum of 30 feet behind and 20 feet in front of a truck. On the driver’s side, their blind spot extends one lane, but on the passenger side, it is two lanes. A good rule of thumb is if you cannot see the truck driver in their mirrors, they cannot see you.

Cutting In: When a driver enters a lane quickly and without warning, it gives little room for other drivers to react if stopping is necessary. For trucks, you may not be visible until it is too late. Trucks with heavy cargo take much longer to stop than passenger cars. A truck driving 65 miles per hour takes two football fields, or approximately 720 feet, to come to a full stop. In poor weather, it will take longer.

Contact an Orland Park Truck Accident Attorney

It takes everyone to contribute to safety to prevent fatal truck accidents. Unfortunately, even when passenger car drivers take the utmost precautions, negligence can still cause tragedies. If you or a loved one has faced life-altering pain and suffering due to a truck accident, contact an experienced Orland Park truck accident attorney today. Set up a free consultation by calling our office at 708-966-2408.

Source:

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ourroads/tips-driving-safely-around-large-trucks-or-buses

https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/large-trucks