Photo of R. Steven Waldron And Terry A. Fann
  1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Commercial Vehicle Accidents
  4.  » 4 mistakes when sharing the road with commercial vehicles

4 mistakes when sharing the road with commercial vehicles

On Behalf of | Jan 13, 2022 | Commercial Vehicle Accidents |

You do not want to experience an accident with a commercial semi-truck. The damage is exponentially greater than regular passenger vehicle crashes. You also face more life-threatening injuries and complicated lawsuits with large corporations. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, most deaths that occur in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants.

To improve your odds of avoiding a large truck collision, see four common mistakes drivers make. If you make yourself aware of what not to do, you can confidently share the road with semi-trucks.

1. Lane changes in traffic

Do not change lanes directly in front of a truck. Give yourself enough space to allow the truck driver to react.

2. Right turn safety

Stay away from the right side of a truck when it makes a right turn. They do not have a good view of their right side while turning. Also, the wide berth of their turning radius creates a larger danger zone.

3. Left turn safety

Do not make a left turn in front of an approaching truck at an intersection. Drivers often misjudge the speed of large commercial vehicles, and their longer braking distance makes this especially dangerous.

4. Improper acceleration

When you pull out in front of a truck at a safe distance, you still need to accelerate quickly. Again, trucks cannot brake as quickly as small vehicles, so you need to generate distance between you and the truck.

Trucks need to share the road with other motorists. You must exercise common sense and safe driving practices to do so safely. The best way to avoid a catastrophic accident is to keep your distance and maintain a safe driving speed.