You may have to drive near semi-trucks on your morning commute. If you do not take precautions, you may become involved in a collision with one of these vehicles.
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself when you encounter large trucks on the road.
Provide room to turn
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, you may get into a collision with a truck if the vehicle does not have enough turning space. Because semi-trucks are so large, they need about 55 feet to complete a turn.
If truckers intend to turn right at an intersection, they may swing into the middle lane so they have more room to maneuver. You should not drive between the curb and the semi-truck because the driver will not see your vehicle. Instead, you should usually wait for truckers to complete their turn. When you stop at the intersection, make sure your car is behind the line. If your vehicle is over the line, truck drivers may not have the space they need to turn right.
Understand the blindspots
A semi-truck has larger blind spots than a passenger vehicle. If you drive in one of these spots, the truck driver cannot see you and you may be more likely to get into an accident. A truck driver usually cannot see you if you drive immediately to the left or right of the truck. Additionally, the blind spots extend up to 20 feet in front of the vehicle and up to 30 feet behind. When you drive near semi-trucks, make sure you can see the truck driver in the side mirror. If you can see the trucker, he or she can typically see your vehicle.
By practicing safe driving techniques around semi-trucks, you can reduce your chances of getting into a collision.