3 Tips to Prevent Truck Accidents (Part 1)

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When driving in highways, you have to be extra careful because of how fast the vehicles are. Commercial trucks, likewise, take the interstate system and with their huge size, which adds to the danger of a collision.

Primarily, drivers should focus on the road and the cars within your range especially when you have commercial trucks near you.  Be smart and just pay full attention to your driving and never for a second take away your eyes on the road. Here are the guides you must know to prevent a truck collision that could be fatal:trailer truck passing on road during daytime

PROVIDE ENOUGH SPACE

Make sure you are not just taking care of the space in front of your car, but also, on your rear. Remember that the big trucks cannot restrain their speed immediately compared to your vehicle.

When a truck is in front of you, make certain that you have minimal space of at least four seconds. This is actually easy to do by using what you see on the road. Chose a marker at the side of the road, a marker of 1 mile is good, and then, count using the back of the truck that is ahead of you. Should 4 seconds has passed subsequently when you are in the landmark, lessen your speed so that your following distance will be higher before you go back to your original lane.

That is for safety as commercial trucks can be as heavy as 40 tons and those drivers using semi can never stop the truck abruptly. So, if you are going to step on the breaks soon, then, go to the left lane to give the truck enough time to go slower.

AVOID BLIND SPOTS AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE VISIBLE

Due to the size of the truck and its long stretch, they surely have a lot more blind spots than the smaller vehicles. Here are their blind spots:

  • This goes for the cars at their rear.
  • In between the side view mirror and on the right edge.
  • From the side view mirror up to instantly your rear cab on the left edge.

If you cannot see the face of the driver that means the driver can’t see you, too. Another tip is that, when you want to stop your vehicle and you are going for the side of the highway, be very careful because as mentioned earlier, the truck driver will not see you. If you have to do that, give a big space between you and the nearest vehicle.

TRANSFER LANES WITH A LOT OF CARE

To do this, do it quickly, but with a lot of caution. Remember to:

  • Transfer on the left side only when it is doable
  • Speed and sustain your speed
  • Press on the signal sign in advance
  • Pass on the left whenever possible
  • Maintain your speed
  • Signal early so the trucks can modify their speed right away

LOOK FOR A PRO TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR DAMAGED CAR

Any damage due to a truck accident must be checked by a professional. Do not try to fix it yourself unless that is your profession. Postponing may cost you an exorbitant cost in the future. Chaney’s Collision Center can do more than fixing fender bender damage. Chaney’s Collision Center has professionally trained repair experts. To inquire, you may call Chaney’s Collision Center at (623) 915-2886.