Safely Share The Road With Large Trucks
Driving next to a semi can be nerve-racking. Here’s how to do it safely.Do you clutch the wheel a little tighter as you pass a semi or other large trucks? You’re not alone. Semis and large trucks navigate the roadways differently than other vehicles. Learning what they need — and what you can do — can help you safely share the road with large trucks.
Do you clutch the wheel a little tighter as you pass a semi or other large trucks? You’re not alone. Semis and large trucks navigate the roadways differently than other vehicles. Learning what they need — and what you can do — can help you safely share the road with large trucks.
What’s Different About Driving Large Trucks or Semis
Drivers of heavy trucks face a few difficulties on the road, including:
- Reduced field of vision. Truck drivers have multiple blind spots on both sides, in front of and behind their trucks.
- Longer stopping time. A large truck’s size and weight increases its stopping distance. For example: If large trucks are going 65 miles per hour, they could need up to 200 yards — nearly the length of two football fields — to stop.
- Slower reactions. Most vehicles can merge quickly. Large trucks can’t because of size.
- Wind vulnerability. Semis have a lot of surface area, making them harder to control when the wind picks up.
- Wide turns. Large trucks need plenty of room to make turns — especially right turns.
What You Can Do
Follow these tips to safely share the road with large trucks:
- Pass safely. Always pass on the left — the blind spot is smaller on this side—and maintain a steady speed.
- Give them space. Keep a safe following distance — four seconds or more — between you and large trucks to help avoid dangerous situations, such as sudden stops (and subsequent rear-ending), a truck rollover in high wind, a tire blowout or a wide truck turn. Note: If you can’t see the trucks mirrors, they can’t see you.
- Be aware. Stay alert at all times, and keep your proximity to large trucks in mind as you share the road. In a smaller vehicle, you can maneuver more quickly which can help you stay out of danger.
Driving next to a semi can be nerve-racking. Here’s how to do it safely.Do you clutch the wheel a little tighter as you pass a semi or other large trucks?…
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I think it is always important to pass big trucks briskly. Slowly enough you can react and get out of the way and fast enough you don’t linger in the “Danger Zone”.
And pull out at least 3 Truck lengths as you approach to pass… that is 300 feet! to make sure they can see you coming.