Five Tips How to Drive Safely Near a Tractor-Trailer
You see them on the highway all the time, especially if you're driving on a big interstate. Tractor-trailers, usually known as semi-trucks, are surely not passenger vehicles. They're designed to transport goods over long distances in an efficient manner. Due to their large size and limited maneuverability, tractor-trailers can do a lot of damage in a collision.
At Service King Mt Moriah in Memphis, TN we're all about road safety, so that's why we're happy to share this information with you.
Accidents involving semi-trucks have killed more than 30,000 people on U.S. roads within the last eight years, and injured countless more. So, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when driving near large trucks in order to minimize the danger and stay safe.
1. Give a truck a lot of extra space: Always keep sufficient distance when driving in front of or behind a large semi-truck, and move into another lane if the semi is driving too closely behind you. Tractor-trailers need a lot more space than a normal passenger vehicle does to come to a complete stop in an emergency, so give them a width berth and don't ever tailgate.
2. Never languish in a truck’s blind spot: Tractor-trailers have much larger blind spots than other vehicles. Follow this general rule and you will be all right: If you can't see the truck’s mirrors, the driver can’t see you, so keep yourself visible and don't camp out in their blind spot.
3. Pass a tractor-trailer carefully: Never cross the double yellow line for any reason. If you must pass a tractor-trailer, make sure to always do so from the left side, and don’t ever cut the truck off by re-entering the lane too closely in front of the semi.
4. Respect the size: A semi-truck sharing the roadway with you can weigh up to 16 times more than the vehicle you're driving. It may also be carrying hazardous chemicals that could turn a rather simple accident into a complete disaster. Also be certain to stay in your own lane, because large trucks are wide and require the full width of their own lane to drive in.
5. Always use common sense: Whether driving a car, SUV, or a semi-truck, we all need to follow the same rules, but that doesn’t mean that everyone actually will. Check your mirrors all the time, and be always be alert. In addition, always avoid cell phones and other distractions.
Service King Mt Moriah in Memphis, TN 38115
Sources: NHTSA and YouTube
Social