How To Safely Share The Road With Large Commercial Vehicles

Transportation trucks and large commercial vehicles have become an integral part of our daily lives. Besides playing a great role in society, it has become impossible to avoid them while on the road. Driving near these large trucks can be quite terrifying, and unfortunately, any fault on either your end or the truck driver’s part can result in devastation.

Around 75% of large commercial vehicle accidents are caused by car drivers. Some car drivers get distracted when they pass by larger vehicles.

Other drivers feel anxious and worried when they notice that these trucks are on the road. Many people don’t know how to manage when large vehicles and trucks show up on the road. This is why we are here to tell you how you can safely share the road with large commercial trucks.

Be Defensive, Not Offensive

There are very few cases in which being on the offense side of the equation will work out for you, and this is certainly not one of them. When you share the road with a large commercial truck, you need to drive with a defensive mindset.

If you have been driving for quite some time, then the chances are that driving comes very naturally to you now. Regardless of how skilled, confident, or comfortable behind the steering wheel you are, you should still be highly vigilant at all times, especially when you’re driving near large trucks and commercial vehicles.

Larger-sized vehicles that are heavy are a lot slower, which makes it hard for the driver to appropriately and quickly react to prevent collisions. This is why you should take it upon yourself to avoid these situations. Be alert when in close proximity to larger vehicles, however, make sure that this doesn’t distract you from being attentive to the other cars on the road, as well.

Pay attention to vehicle signals, traffic flow, the weather (rain, snow, wind, etc..), and the general environment to be able to anticipate any issues before they occur. This will give you plenty of time to avoid collisions before they happen.

Stay Protected and Prepared

We all have our bad days; whether you pulled an all-nighter, just experienced a breakup, or are just feeling tired, this can affect your ability to focus on the road. Unfortunately, you never know when you’ll have to share the road with a large commercial vehicle. There is no way in which we can avoid large vehicle transport on St. Louis’ roads, which is why it’s always good to be prepared.

Your best bet would be to contact a truck accident lawyer in St Louis in order to find out what you need to do in case you collide with a large vehicle. Commercial vehicles belong to huge firms with a well-experienced legal team. If the crash is the truck driver’s fault, the chances are that you will barely get any compensation. To protect your rights and ensure that you receive the reimbursement you deserve, you need to seek professional legal help.

Keep Your Distance

If you are driving near a large commercial vehicle, you need to keep in mind that the close proximity can increase the risk of getting hurt. Sudden stops or moves, rollovers that may result from strong winds, tire blowouts, and similar situations can put you at great risk. It doesn’t matter if you’re driving beside, behind, or in front of the truck or vehicle; if possible, try to drive in the furthest lane possible.

You should try to keep enough distance for comfortable maneuvering, swerving, or merging. You should keep what’s often known as a “four-second following distance,” at the very least, between you and the truck. This will help protect you in case the driver comes to a sudden stop.

Avoid Blind Spots

Generally speaking, the larger the vehicle, the more blind spots it has. Blind spots are areas in which the driver’s vision is unclear, blocked, or obstructed.

This means that if you are driving in one of the commercial vehicle driver’s blind spots, they will not be able to see you at all. A large commercial vehicle’s right side is its largest blind spot; you should avoid driving in this zone.

Their view is typically blocked, on the right side, for at least three lanes. You should also avoid driving right in front of the truck, just behind it, and in specific zones along the sides, which are all blind spots.

Sharing the road with a large commercial truck can be a very worrisome experience. Many people don’t know what to do when they’re driving near a large truck, which often results in horrific accidents. This is why we gathered some tips to help ensure your safety.