Drive Defensively To Avoid An 18-Wheeler Accident
Most of us think the driver of an 18wheeler is a professional driver and you’d be right most of the time. However even if the semi truck driver follows all of the rules of road there are other laws that come into play such as mechanics physics and visibility which apply differently to cars. In addition although technically a professional driver they may not be professional when it comes to road safety and courtesy. An 18wheeler accident can result and most likely the car driver not the trucker will be injured or killed.
Do you drive defensively around an 18wheeler truck? If not you should! 18wheeler safety should not be taken lightly. Considering the limitations of those vehicles you need to drive defensively to avoid an 18wheeler accident.
Tailgating Is Taboo
Tailgating is something that every driver has done in his or her lifetime but the worst place to do it is behind an 18wheeler.
Even with many mirrors the truck driver can’t see you. Another reason is that you can’t see beyond the truck you’re following. If the truck driver is forced to suddenly apply his brakes because a car veers into his lane or for any other reason guess who could become a pancake dripping off his mud flaps? Yes the car tailgating behind him.
Stop Stop Stop
The law of physics comes into play when a 100000pound 18wheeler has to come to a stop as quickly as possible. Even with air brakes don’t expect a semi truck to stop as readily as smaller cars going the same speed. The forward momentum is too great to allow the much heaver truck to stop often resulting in an 18wheeler accident.
If a fully loaded 18wheeler is going 55 mph on flat dry terrain it will travel the length of a football field between braking and stopping. It’s like an out of control missal shooting down road and if you’re in the car ahead of this missal you may be involved in an 18wheeler accident. If you’re injured or even killed then the services of a truck accident lawyer may be needed.
Wide Turns And Road Hazards
Wide turns are a given for 18wheelers it’s a requirement because of the length of their vehicle. But even then a truck may turn even more widely than necessary. Stay back and always be alert for truckers’ turn signals and wide turns. After all it’s better to be safe than be involved in an 18wheeler accident.
Another road hazard can be a sudden tire blowout. Those 18 tires take a heavy beating while carrying loads of up to 80000 pounds. If a tire blows out it can hurl slabs of rubber like a cannon. You don’t want to be near such catastrophic missiles keep a safe distance to avoid such an accident.
The above factors don’t even take into account some semi truck drivers are simply bad drivers or rude. Just like car drivers they may become distracted or impaired by drugs/alcohol and if they are their margin for error is even more reduced.
You should treat 18wheelers differently than other vehicles on the road. You should always drive defensively but even more so when you’re around these large semi trucks.
That means use common sense no cell phone dialing texting or attending to personal grooming. Also don’t get too close whether you’re behind in front or beside a semi truck. If you decide to pass do so promptly don’t linger along side where the truck driver’s vision may be limited resulting in an 18wheeler accident.
About the writer: Christine O’Kelly is an author for 18Wheeler Accident.org an organization of legal representatives specializing in helping clients that have been involved in an 18wheeler accident.
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