Sharing the road with trucks is a high-risk activity. While most truck drivers are skilled professionals, some lack skills, patience, caution or attention. Newer drivers lack the experience to handle their rig well, and regardless of whether someone has been driving for a week or thirty years, they can still get tired.
Truck drivers are not the only péople that can make trucks a hazard to you. Behind every 18-wheeler is a skilled maintenance team, or at least there should be. When mechanics do not do their job well, it could cause a malfunction which causes the truck to crash. Finally, there are the trucking companies. Some push their drivers too hard, making them a danger to others.
What can you do to avoid a truck crash?
Now that you understand the dangers of trucks, you need to know what you can do to limit their risks:
- Do not pull in too close after overtaking: While trucks have good brakes, it takes a lot of distance to stop a heavy load. If you pull straight in front after passing and have to brake, the truck may run into the back of you.
- Do not sit too close behind a truck: When right behind a trailer, you have no idea what is in front. You will not notice an obstacle that causes the truck to brake until the brake lights go on. Trucks are not cars. You will not rear-end them; You will slide under the back of them.
- Give them space to swing out when turning: Trucks have a wide turning circle, so they often need to move in one direction before turning in the other.
Being cautious around trucks is essential, yet it still might not prevent an accident from happening. If a truck injures you, it is crucial to find out more about the factors that led to the crash to lodge a compensation claim.