When you find yourself sharing the road with commercial trucks, such as when driving on the interstate, it’s only natural to feel a heightened sense of anxiety. Not only are these vehicles big, but their drivers don’t always take the safety of others into consideration.
The best way to avoid trouble is to maintain as much space as possible between your vehicle and commercial trucks. While this may be your plan, it’s easier said than done.
Here are five reasons why it’s so difficult to share the road with commercial trucks:
- Size difference: It’s one thing to control a passenger vehicle. It’s another thing entirely to control a commercial truck with 18 wheels. The size alone makes it difficult to share the road with these vehicles, as they take up quite a bit of space.
- Stopping distance: Due to the weight, it takes commercial trucks longer than passenger vehicles to reach a complete stop. So, if a trucker has to stop in a hurry, they may not be able to do so before causing an accident. An example of this is if a trucker comes flying over a hill, just to realize that traffic in front of them is stopped.
- Blind spots: The larger the vehicle, the more blind spots the driver has to contend with. For truckers, there are blind spots directly behind and next to the vehicle. Do your best to avoid these areas to ensure that the trucker can see your vehicle at all times.
- Spraying: In wet conditions, for example, commercial trucks often splash and spray water and debris onto your windshield. They can’t help it, but it definitely makes your travels more challenging.
- Potential for drowsy driving: Truckers spend many hours on the road, often too many behind the wheel. This can result in drowsy driving, which greatly increases the risk of an accident.
The primary issue with these circumstances is that you don’t always have much control. If a trucker is going to make a mistake they’ll probably do so regardless of the steps you take.
If you’re involved in an accident with a commercial truck, you must call 911 for immediate help. Due to the size difference in vehicles, you could suffer serious injuries.
Only after you receive treatment should you contact your insurance company, learn more about your legal rights and formulate a plan for holding the trucker responsible for their negligence.
