Tips for Safely Sharing the Road With Oversized Vehicles

Almost every driver fears sharing the road with oversized vehicles like semi-trucks. These imposing vehicles seem to take over the road and make people worry that a major wreck is imminent. Although these feelings are understandable, sharing the road with oversized vehicles isn’t as difficult as you might think, particularly if you have the right tips at your disposal.

Discover a few tips for sharing the road with oversized vehicles so that you can stay calm and safe the next time you’re behind the wheel.

Watch the Blind Spots

Every vehicle has a blind spot, but many people are unaware that large trucks, particularly semi-trucks, have multiple blind spots, some of which are many feet in length. Staying out of these blind spots will help the truck driver to see you and allow you to stay safe.

Large semi-trucks have four blind spots that you need to avoid. The first is directly in front of the truck. The second is the entire length of the passenger side of the truck. The third is right behind the truck. The final, blind spot is beside the driver’s door. Being aware of these multiple blind spots will help you more easily share the road with trucks while protecting your safety.

Passing

One of the most common causes of wrecks on the highway is passing another vehicle incorrectly. This is especially true when it comes to oversized vehicles. Following proper passing procedure is one of the best ways to share the road with very large vehicles.

By law, most trucks are prohibited from passing cars in the left-hand lane, also called the fast lane. If you’re in the right-hand lane—the slow lane—and notice a truck behind you, do them the courtesy of shifting to the fast lane so that they can pass.

If you need to pass a large vehicle, it’s important that you do so in the right way. If possible, only use overtaking lanes. You should also use proper signals and pass them as quickly as possible while still obeying the speed limit. If there are strong wind conditions or a sharp curve is ahead, you should refrain from passing the oversized vehicle.

Tailgating

Tailgating can be a major problem with even small vehicles, and the risks only increase with an oversized vehicle. If you are tailgating a large vehicle and they slam on their brakes, you will likely experience a major, life threatening accident.

If you’re behind an oversized vehicle on the road, make sure that you’re following at a safe distance. Give yourself enough room to safely stop if the large vehicle applies its brakes suddenly and you’ll be able to stay safe.

Turning

Oversized vehicles require a large turning radius, particularly if they are hauling a trailer. Often, the trailer will cover two lanes of traffic while turning, and if you’re not paying attention, it’s possible to cause a collision. When sharing the road with an oversized vehicle, make sure that you’re watching for their turns so that you can give the large vehicle the space they need.

Stick to these simple rules and you’ll easily be able to safely share the road with oversized vehicles.

Image Via Pixabay

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