Nervous When Driving Near Trucks? These Tips Will Keep You Safe

© Gorgios 

We all get a little anxious when driving sometimes. And when you have little ones in the car with you, that anxiety and pressure is certainly increased. One of the most common scenarios that drivers dread, is passing or driving alongside trucks and semis. They're loud, intimidating and overbearing. It's difficult to know if they've seen you, or if their truckload will fall - they could suddenly jackknife or you could unintentionally find yourself in their blind spot…

Becoming involved in a road accident with a truck usually means catastrophic damage to your vehicle, serious injuries and in some cases, even death. This is simply because of the speed and the size of the truck of involved. Speak with this Carrollton truck accident lawyer if you’ve been injured in a road accident with a truck.

Driving around trucks is something that should be done with confidence. So, if you suffer from anxiety in these scenarios, check out the following tips.

Understand the need for safe passing

When you pass other vehicles on the freeway, it doesn’t take much acceleration, just plenty of space and confidence. However, when you decide to overtake a truck, you should exercise caution. Always look far ahead to make sure that you have enough time to pass the truck. You’ll need time to gather up enough speed, and take into consideration how long the truck bed is. Ensure the driver can see you by using the correct signals – this is especially important when you remerge into the lane ahead of the truck.

When a truck passes you

In the event of a truck passing you, it’s normal to feel suddenly very vulnerable. Be courteous and slow down slightly so the truck has plenty of time and room to complete their maneuver safely. Don’t suddenly speed up or make it difficult for them to pass you.

Take your time

When there are trucks on the road around you, every decision you make should be done with patience and forward-thinking. Suddenly realizing you’re in the wrong lane or about to miss your turn off could influence you to make a rash decision or drive erratically. Remember that trucks can’t move or react as fast as your family car, so you need to take their reaction time into consideration.

Increase your following distance

If you can’t see the wing mirrors of the truck in front, then they can’t see you. If you’re tailgating a large semi-truck and they brake suddenly, you won’t have time to react and hitting the back of a truck at speed will probably be catastrophic for everyone in your vehicle.

Give them room

When a truck needs to make a turn, they need more room than your family car. So, if they’re straddling both lanes at a junction, don’t beep your horn and come alongside them in frustration. They’ve done this so they can complete their maneuver safely. Give them plenty of room and keep your distance!

Final thoughts…

If you’re really concerned about driving with trucks on the road, consider a defensive driving course. Alternatively, if you have been in a crash involving a semi-truck, speak to a PI lawyer, now.