As a general rule, semi trucks aren’t as dangerous as other types of commercial vehicles, but it’s still important to follow proper safety procedures when driving a semi. They are still large vehicles that are capable of causing injury or death if driven recklessly. For example, if your trailer becomes stuck on the side of the road, you may panic and try to back up, but that could cause an accident if another driver is coming towards you at the same time. If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to unhook your trailer, there are some things you can do to prevent problems with semi trucks: - If you are driving a trailer, be sure to stay at least 100 feet away in front of the truck. This will provide enough room for the driver to see you and brake if needed. - Be sure to put your hazards on before pulling over to the side of the road if you are having a problem. If another driver sees you putting on your hazards, they have time to react before colliding with you. - If you are waiting to turn, don’t forget to put your turn signal on. This is also important when merging onto a highway. It is the law in almost every state to signal when you intend to merge or change lanes. The signal let’s the other drivers behind you know what you are doing and the time that they should expect you to move to avoid a collision. - Make sure your trailer is properly loaded before driving. This includes making sure there isn’t a load that is too heavy for the trailer or an irregularly shaped load that could cause an accident if shifted during transit. If your trailer doesn’t have enough weight, the driver will have to slow down, which could put them in danger of being rear-ended by the car behind them. No matter how careful you are, there will always be some risks when driving a commercial vehicle. But with these safety tips, you can reduce those risks as much as possible.
Stay in the proper lane
While driving a semi, it is important to stay in the proper lane at all times. This means you should never drive on the shoulder, and when you are merging onto a highway, you should look to see if there are any other cars to safely merge with.When you are driving in the proper lane, you are less likely to be involved in a collision. If you are unsure of what lane you are in, there are several ways you can check. - Use your turn signal to let other drivers know what you are doing. This is important even if you are not turning, because it tells them that you intend to stay in the lane.- Look for road signs that mark your lane. Most states use these to mark the edge of the pavement. If you can’t see a sign, look for the white line on the road to mark the edge of the lane.- To be extra careful, you can also use your windshield wipers to check your lane. This is especially helpful if it is foggy or raining, but can also be useful in snowy conditions. This method is especially helpful if you are driving on an interstate where there are often no roadside markers.
Check the road behind you frequently
As previously mentioned, semi trucks are large vehicles that are more likely to cause an accident if they are following too closely. You should always drive at a safe distance from other vehicles, but when you are following another semi, you should make sure they have plenty of room to stop and avoid an accident. There are a few ways you can check the road behind you to make sure the driver of the semi in front of you has plenty of room to stop. - Look at the distance between the truck in front of you and the semi in its rearview mirror. You can use the distance between the two vehicles as a guide for how much space there is between you and the truck in front of you. - If you can see the driver of the truck in front of you, wave to let them know that you are behind them and that you are watching closely to make sure they have plenty of room to stop if needed.- Another way to check the distance between you and the truck in front of you is to tap the truck in front of you on the side. If you do this too early, you could cause an accident, but if you tap it when the driver is slowing down for a turn, you can let them know that you are behind them and want to make sure they have room to slow down safely.
Watch for other drivers who may get too close to you
When you are driving a semi, you may see other drivers on the road trying to get close to you. This can be tempting to try and get ahead of you, but it can also be dangerous if they are trying to cut you off or get in your blind spot.If you see another driver get too close to you, use the same tools you use for staying in a lane. Tap on your trailer and then tap the driver on the side window to let them know that you are driving a large commercial vehicle. If they keep coming closer, tap the side window again. If the driver does not back off, you can radio the driver to let them know you are in control of the road.
Don’t forget that heavy trucks are slow drivers too
As mentioned above, semi trucks are much slower than other commercial vehicles. While this means you have less of a chance of being rear-ended, it also means you have to be extra careful when driving in close proximity to other drivers.When you are driving a semi, you have to follow the same rules of the road as anyone else. You have to obey all traffic signs, signal when you are merging and driving in the correct lane, and drive at a safe speed for the conditions. You also have to be extra careful around other drivers, as they may not be expecting a large commercial vehicle to be in their lane.
Conclusion
As you can see, driving a commercial vehicle is not as simple as driving a car. It takes a lot of practice and preparation to be able to do it safely. However, with the right preparation and safety measures, you can greatly reduce the risks. By following these tips, you can make sure you are as safe as possible while you are behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle.