Do you commute daily on the highway to and from work? Or maybe you’re getting ready for a cross-country road trip or just a trip to visit family. Perhaps you’re driving, or maybe your teenager will be getting some interstate driving practice. Regardless of who’s driving and where you are travelling, watch out for truckers. There are 3 inherent dangers when it comes to driving near truckers on the interstate. Take a moment with your family, particularly the less experienced drivers in your family, to review these hazards.
Wide turns. Truckers need extra space when turning – they aren’t just trying to annoy you, their vehicle is so large it needs extra space to be able to complete a turn. That may seem more annoying than dangerous, and you may be tempted to try to go around them, but if you get caught between a turning truck and another vehicle, it could result in serious damage and injury. Any time you’re driving near a large vehicle, make sure to give them extra space to avoid a collision.
Blow outs. Ever noticed those black pieces on the side (or in the middle) of the interstate? Those come from tire blowouts – meaning a truck’s tire gave out and basically exploded on the road. If you happen to be driving next to a truck when this happens, it can cause multiple hazards. First of all, it’s loud – it can startle drivers. Second of all, it can cause a truck driver to lose control of the vehicle – meaning they could swerve into your lane. When this happens, it’s unexpected for both the truck driver and the other vehicles on the road. To avoid this, leave extra room for trucks and when passing, and do so as quickly as is safely possible.
Wind. Have you ever been driving on a windy day and felt the wind move your car? You may think that doesn’t happen to trucks because they are larger and heavier, but that’s not the case. In fact, large trucks can be even more susceptible to wind and, not only could the wind move the truck, it could even cause the truck to flip on its side. As you may have noticed from our first two hazards, the best way to avoid danger in these scenarios is, again, to give the trucker extra room. You should always be giving extra space to truckers, but be extra cautious if you notice it’s a windy day.
We hope you’ll revisit these hazards before a big road trip and make sure you keep these in mind as you are driving. We want you to enjoy your summer trips and, more importantly, stay safe during them. If you have been injured by a truck accident, give us a call today for a free consultation.