Commercial trucks are very large and have a lot of power so they are quite dangerous on the road. If a truck collides with a smaller vehicle, it can be fatal. If you are driving a truck, here are some useful tips to help in avoiding truck wrecks.
1. Avoid Blind Spots
Commercial trucks have many blind spots compared to smaller vehicles. Therefore, it’s prudent to avoid blind spots when driving a truck. For instance, a truck driver might not be able to see 20 feet in front and 30 feet behind. Therefore, when driving a truck, you need to beware of blind spots and avoid colliding into smaller vehicles in these known blind spots.
2. Be Extra Cautious When Overtaking
If you choose to overtake another vehicle while driving a commercial truck, you need to be cautious. Note that, large trucks can’t stop suddenly or maneuver as easily as smaller vehicles. You need additional time to react and adjust to the speed. For instance, you shouldn’t overtake when going uphill or downhill because the speed might increase or decrease suddenly.
3. Always Give Clear Signals
If you are changing lanes or overtake while in a commercial truck, you need to give clear signals so the other drivers can anticipate accordingly. Make sure you use your signal sooner than normal to allow the other drivers to adjust their driving while on the road. It might be tough avoiding a truck wreck if you move too fast without letting the other drivers adjust.
4. Make Sure There Is Plenty Of Space Between You And Other Drivers
When you are driving a commercial truck, you should make sure there is plenty of space between your vehicle and the rest on the road. Note that, at any moment’s notice there are unmitigated factors that might cause a truck wreck. For instance, the tires might blowout causing the remnants to hit the windshield of other vehicles.
Also, you might need to brake suddenly. If that happens, all the smaller vehicles in your blind spot might slide under the truck or your vehicle might tip over causing a serious accident. There are cases where high winds might cause the truck to tip over causing fatal accidents.
5. Lower The Bright Lights
If you are driving a commercial truck at night, you need to lower the bright lights effectively. Remember, your vehicle is higher than the rest on the road. Therefore, you would be blinding a lot of drivers if you shine bright. Ideally, you should lower the brightness of the headlights when you are overtaking.
6. Proper Merging
If you need to merge into another lane, you need to do so carefully. Anticipate the speed of the other drivers on the road. Rushing into the other lines will lead to a collision with the other vehicles in your blind spot. Make sure you signal beforehand to allow the drivers to know what you are about to do. Always remember that braking suddenly will lead to a fatal accident so use the right signals.
Follow these tips for avoiding truck wrecks for the best results!