Guest post from Trucking Today:
Truck driving can be a rewarding experience that allows for freedom and fun, but it can also be dangerous. Unfortunately, many truck accidents that occur across the country aren’t the fault of truck drivers themselves, but rather, they occur because car drivers don’t understand the trucking industry or how trucks operate. As a result, many truck drivers believe that car drivers should spend a day with a trucker just see what it’s like behind the wheel of a big rig. In fact, they might learn the following:
Stopping Distances Are Different
In most passenger vehicles, modern braking systems allow for very quick and short stops. Trucks, on the other hand, require a much longer period of time and a much greater distance to come to a complete stop due to their weight and size. Unfortunately, as our attorneys at injurylawyers.com point out, car drivers don’t always understand this, so they make quick stops in front of trucks, often leading to accidents.
Following Distances
Because trucks aren’t able to stop as quickly, following distances are different. All too often, car drivers tailgate big rigs on the highway, and this then leads to accidents. Car drivers should also recognize the danger of riding beside a truck for a long period of time, as the trailer of the truck may drift slightly into the car driver’s lane, leading other drivers to become nervous and make preventable mistakes.
Wide Turns
Trucks also need to make wider turns when compared to passenger vehicles. This is because of the physics of having a trailer attached and the size of the truck. Car drivers, however, often block lanes that trucks need when turning, or they pull up too close while a truck is turning, ultimately leading to a collision.
Mirrors
In a passenger vehicle, a driver has a chance to have a complete view of the entire road around them due to windows. Trucks, however, have to rely on mirrors only to see what is going on behind them or beside them. While today’s trucks are equipped with powerful mirrors that offer better views, car drivers still need to be mindful of a truck’s presence and its maneuvers.
Speed
While trucks generally travel at the same speeds that passenger vehicles travel at, acceleration times are completely different. This means that trucks will need more time to get up to the speed of traffic, so car drivers need to make sure to allow this extra time. In addition, if a truck is pulling onto a highway from a ramp, be mindful that it may take more time to get up to the speed of the traffic, so always try to move into the left lane if possible to allow the truck time and room to safely get moving.
If you’re a truck driver, it’s also important for you to understand that car drivers might not know how your truck operates. As a result, it’s also up to you to use caution on the road to avoid accidents. Always practice defensive driving, and try to be courteous to car drivers at all times, even if they don’t seem to know what they’re doing.
(A note from Trucking Today. The following Youtube video is a compilation of every day hazards truckers see. Taken from a dash cam of a big rig it will give you an idea of the difficult job truckers have. )
Georgina Clatworthy is a legal writer and is married to a professional truck driver. She contributes this article for the attorneys at injurylawyers.com, a law firm with many years experience in handling injury claims. If you are injured in an accident that was not your fault you should seek professional legal advice before proceeding with a claim to ensure your rights are protected and you receive the full award owed to you.
