Never Argue With A Big Truck
Posted by Safetytimes in Cars and TrucksIt was late on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and Tom was still two hours from his destination. He was cranky and tired, and the transport truck in front of him was hogging the passing lane on the steep incline. Tom flashed his lights several times and honked his horn angrily. The inside lane was blocked by a truck, too. Tom stayed in the passing lane at 20 miles per hour and stewed.
Things changed dramatically on the downgrade. A third truck came up behind him quickly, and the three 18-wheelers kept him wedged between them as they careened down the mountain at 70 miles per hour. His small Buick was never more than ten feet from disaster. The episode taught Tom a new respect for big trucks and their drivers.
While most drivers are courteous professionals, trucks are potent dangers and should be handled with respect and caution.
According to the National Institute for Highway Safety, about 5,000 people die annually in crashes involving large trucks. In collisions between large trucks and cars, 98% of people killed were in the car. To safely manage your encounters with these behemoths:
Avoid Their Blind Spots
Because they sit so high, drivers may appear to have total vision of the road. Instead, they have more blind spots than ordinary drivers. They are called “No Zones” because cars should avoid them. A big rig’s four blind spots are:
-immediately in front, sometimes as much as 20 feet if the truck has a long hood.
-on either side of the cab. The right side blind spot is especially dangerous, because trucks like to swing into the right lanes to avoid troubles in the road ahead.
-up to 200 feet in the rear.
* Remember: If you can’t see the driver of a truck in his side mirror, he cannot see you, either. To be seen, pull ahead or drop back.
