As a passenger car operator, you probably are like many Americans who tense up as they approach a trucker on the road. You probably worry about the prospect of them not seeing you as you try to whiz past them.
There are steps that you can take to minimize your crash risk. Employing the two strategies listed below could just end up saving your life:
When merging in front of a truck, take it slow
While you should always give yourself some room when merging in front of anyone, it’s particularly important that you do so when pulling in front of a trucker. It can take some time for a trucker to slow their tractor-trailer or bring it to a full stop, depending on how well-maintained their truck, how fast they’re going, and how heavy of a load they’re carrying. You don’t give them enough time to slow down to avoid you when you cut in tight on them.
Be cautious when driving in a truck’s blind spot
If you think that your passenger car has a lot of blind spots, such as around its four corners, then imagine how many a tractor-trailer has. While the mirrors installed on the truck aid truckers in noticing some passenger car operators, whether they see you greatly depends on your distance from the truck. A good rule of thumb is that if you’re unable to see the trucker’s face in their mirror, then it’s unlikely that they can see you.
By taking the steps described above, you can hopefully reduce your chances of suffering a crash to a certain degree. If a trucker’s negligence results in your catastrophic injuries in a crash, find out more about your right to compensation for your losses.