by David
22. October 2010 21:10
The problems that cause accidents vary, but many can be avoided by following some simple rules:
- Don't tailgate. This one should be obvious, but some people think that if they follow a truck closely it will eliminate the drag caused by air thus increasing their gas mileage. While this may be true to some extent, you can't predict what the truck driver is going to do if you're following too closely. If they suddenly put on the brakes, guess what happens to you? You'll end up under the truck, and this usually results in death for anyone in the car who is tall enough to have their head above the dashboard.
- Don't cut trucks off. This happens so frequently, it is amazing that more motorists haven't died doing it, not to mention the truck driver. If a truck is going 65 and you pull in right in front of a truck, then quickly reduce your speed to less than 65, guess what? Someone is going to have to put on the brakes; a truck driver risks jackknifing the truck. That alone can cause chain reaction accidents for everyone around the truck. In addition, the motorist in front of the truck risks being literally run over by the truck. Imagine if you were driving a semi-truck full of milk. The milk is heavy, but it also moves around in the truck because it is a liquid, changing the way the driver has to react. If the truck driver has to suddenly stop, the liquid is still moving at 65 miles an hour. Not only will the thousands of gallons of milk abruptly slosh forward, it will also equally slosh abruptly backwards. The end result can be a horrific accident that could have been avoided by simply not cutting off a truck.
- Don't hang out in the blind spot. Motorists know (or should know) that every vehicle has a blind spot. It is no different for truck drivers, who have an even larger blind spot. If a trucker needs to move into the right lane to pass another vehicle, they may not see you hanging around back there. If you need to pass, do so quickly.
- If you see a semi-truck making a turn in the city, give them plenty of room. You may have noticed truckers taking up two lanes before they make the turn. Their turn signal is your first clue that they are indeed making a turn. Don't try to pull into the lane next to the truck so that you can "zip around them" when they start making their turn. You risk getting your car destroyed when they make the turn and the trailer they're pulling cuts across the second lane (and your car if it is in the way). Give them plenty of room; try to be patient and everyone will be safer for it.
- Stay out of the way of trucks going down steep hills. If you've ever driven in mountain regions, you'll notice "runaway truck" emergency pull offs. They are there for a reason- semi-trucks and other types of large trucks may burn out their brakes if they frequently drive in mountain areas. There is also a danger of slippage on icy, hilly roads. When possible, give a trucker plenty of room, and if you see one barreling down on you, switch to the other lane. The trucker may not be able to slow down his truck, and there is no way for them to tell you if they are experiencing trouble with their truck. If they're in trouble they're going to be holding on to the steering wheel for dear life, not waving at you to get out of the way.
Final Note
Most drivers don't deliberately try to engage in bad behavior on the roads, but there is a segment of the population who engages in road rage or want to "teach truckers a lesson." This is a no-win situation, and it may cost you, a trucker, and innocent drivers their lives.
If you find that you are very upset or agitated while driving, why not just pull off at a rest stop or nearby exit to a town to calm down? No one is immune to getting upset while driving, both truckers and motorists. It is important to remember that your actions can have unintended consequences - causing death or injury to innocent parties. Ending up in jail for vehicular homicide or getting yourself killed to "get even" is bad for everyone involved.
Since we all have to share the road, let's all try to be more aware of safety around large trucks. No trucker wants to end their day or lose their license by hurting other motorists. They just want to get their loads delivered and get home to their friends and family, just like you.
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