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Share The Road: 3 Ways To Stay Safe Around Semi-Trucks

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Spend enough time on the freeway, and you'll notice just how many semi-trucks are on them too. Those semi-trucks carry a lot of weight behind them. Your car is no match for a semi-truck, which means you're going to come out on the losing end of any accident that involves one. Luckily, there are some safety precautions you can take to prevent accidents between you and the semi-trucks you're sharing the road with. Here are three steps you can take to keep yourself safe while you're sharing the road.

Respect the Blind Spots

Every vehicle on the road has at least one blind spot. Those blind spots make it difficult, if not impossible, to see other vehicles. Semi-trucks have blind spots too. The difference is that their blind spots are much bigger. Unfortunately, if you stay in one of their blind spots for too long, you could put yourself and your passengers in danger. To prevent accidents, make sure you can always see the side-view mirrors on any semi-truck your near. If you can see their side-view mirrors, the driver can see you. This includes the sides, and the rear of the truck. If you're driving behind a semi-truck, move slightly to the right, or left of the lane. This will ensure that the driver of the truck can see you clearly.

Give Them Plenty of Space

Semi-trucks can't stop on a dime. When they need to stop, they require much more distance than your typical passenger vehicle. If you're going to switch lanes in front of a semi-truck, make sure you give the driver plenty of room to slow down. That will prevent them from running into the back of you when they run out of stopping room. It's also important that you remember the stopping distance when driving in back of a truck, especially since you might not be able to see what's going on in front of the truck. If you're tailgating a semi-truck, and they have to slow down quickly, you may drive right into the back of the truck. To protect yourself, and prevent accidents, always allow a safe distance between you and the back of the semi-truck.

Try to Pass on the Left

Truck drivers can't always see what's to the right of them, especially when they're making a tight, right-hand turn. That means, if you're trying to pass them on the right, they might not see you. To avoid accidents, you should always try to pass semi-trucks on the left. This will protect you, and your passengers.

Don't take chances while you're driving. Use the tips provided here to share the road safely. If you're involved in an accident with a semi-truck, contact an attorney who specializes in truck accidents, as soon as possible. To learn more, contact a law office like D Chadwick Calvert Law Office


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