Semi-truck crashes, like any other type of wreck, are a public safety concern. Drivers and passenger vehicles can incur severe injuries in crashes involving commercial vehicles. While drivers typically want to avoid any type of crash, preventing semi-truck collisions can be of the utmost importance for personal safety.
Many semi-truck collisions occur because of mistakes by commercial drivers or maintenance issues with semi-trucks. However, the actions of those in smaller vehicles can lead to preventable wrecks as well.
What safety tips sometimes help keep those in passenger vehicles safe when sharing the road with semi trucks?
Be mindful of blind spots
Commercial drivers have to control a vehicle that is too big for proper visibility. Even with extra mirrors attached to the cab, commercial drivers may not spot vehicles directly to the sides of the trailer or immediately behind it. Motorists generally need to avoid driving in those blind spots to minimize their chance of getting hit when the commercial truck merges or turns.
Being aware of the visibility issues generated by following a semi-truck is also important. Drivers trying to pass commercial vehicles may not be able to see oncoming traffic because of how big the vehicle in front of them is.
Understand the demands on professional drivers
Motorists who are consciously aware of the demands of professional driving may naturally become a bit safer around semi-trucks. They may give them more space and be more aware of how a small mistake could lead to a crash.
Commercial drivers may be on the road for half the day in some cases. They may deal with fatigue or boredom. Some commercial drivers make questionable choices trying to stay awake or stave off boredom or stay awake. Quite a few semi-truck crashes occur due to a driver failing to monitor their surroundings or becoming incapable of operating the vehicle, possibly because they fell asleep.
Drivers who recognize how stressful it is to drive a big rig may learn to give semi-trucks more space and may yield the right of way in heavy traffic. Those choices could potentially save them from a devastating collision. Of course, crashes can still occur due to what professional drivers do in traffic.
Anyone who does end up involved in a crash involving a semi-truck may need help handling the aftermath of the incident. Negotiating insurance claims and filing personal injury lawsuits are often necessary acts for those harmed by a crash with an 18-wheeler. Drivers who know what to expect on the road and after a crash can protect themselves from causing a wreck and can assert themselves should they experience one despite their best efforts.