No one wants to be involved in a road accident, but not many people take the necessary precautions to avoid being in this situation. As you can imagine, truck accidents have much bigger impacts on those involved and are usually the cause of many casualties. However, as a driver, there are a few things that you can do to ensure you keep yourself safe.
This article will provide you with six tips to help you avoid truck accidents so that you and everyone on the road is out of harm’s way.
1. Be a Defensive Driver
Every driver should be defensive regardless of who is on the road with them. Having a defensive driver approach essentially means that you are always ‘on defense’ and ready to reach should anything happen. This approach allows you to better read what goes on the road and helps you predict what other drivers are thinking of doing. There are many hazards on the road that result in serious accidents only because drivers pay attention to themselves and not what happens around them. It may seem difficult to predict what your others will do but with the increased driving experience you will develop this skill easily. Considering accidents involving trucks have an increased level of risk, it is natural that becoming defensive is increasingly more important in such cases.
2. Be Aware of The Truck’s Blind Spot
Every vehicle has a blind spot that you must avoid. A blind spot means that the driver cannot see what is going on around that particular area. If they can’t see, they can’t look out for hazards and may act in a risky way towards others. Trucks are much larger than a regular vehicle, and as such, they will have larger blind spots. You must know where these are and avoid them at all times. It is the driver’s responsibility to also be aware of this and ensure that the perimeter around the truck is clean and safe. However, you can do your part by keeping yourself visible to the truck driver to ensure that you do not risk getting run over or colliding with the truck.
3. Keep a Safe Distance
Maintaining a safe distance between the vehicles is crucial to avoid accidents. Vehicles are heavy, therefore it takes time for them to stop in case of an emergency; Considering trucks are much heavier than a standard car, truck breaking distances take longer to occur. Vehicles may need to stop suddenly due to a hazard, the closer you are to the vehicle in front of you, the more likely it will be for you to crash onto it. You must have this in mind, particularly if the weather conditions are not great – if the roads are wet or icy, it will be even more difficult to break. If you are traveling behind a truck, make sure that you keep enough distance from them, so that you have sufficient time to react should they stop suddenly.
4. Avoid Distractions
This may seem like an obvious tip but if you are driving, your focus should really be on the road and nothing else. However, many people still choose to ignore this. Experienced drivers, in particular, tend to overtrust their skills and believe that they can take their eyes off the road for a quick second to change the song or to use their phone. This is the easiest way to get involved in an accident. You will need to ensure that you do not get distracted whenever you are driving, especially if there are trucks around. Accidents involving trucks are increasingly more likely to result in major injuries and even death.
5. Do Not Take Part In Risky Behaviors Around a Truck
Who has never tried to overtake a slow vehicle or change lanes without signaling? This is not recommended no matter what type of vehicles are on the road, but when you are around trucks, the need to not take part in such risky behaviors increases. Trucks have different speed limits to other vehicles, therefore you may find that truck drivers go much slower than you. Do not get frustrated and try to overtake them as this can create unnecessary hazards. Make sure to always follow the road rules to prevent accidents.
6. Consult With Legal Representation
This tip will not necessarily help you prevent an accident but it is vital to have regardless. Being involved in a truck accident can have a serious impact on different aspects of your life. For this reason, should you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, you should ensure that you have appropriate legal counsel that can guide you through this process if you want to claim compensation.
If you want to ensure that you are not involved in a truck accident, make sure to follow the tips discussed on this page. You should follow these whenever you are on the road, no matter what type of vehicles are around you.
