As a driver, you’ll know that there are dangers everywhere when you’re on the road. You have to be keeping an eye out for everyone else around you and predicting what other road users are going to do – as well as concentrating on where you’re going.
When you’re sharing the road with trucks it can be really intimidating, especially when they’re so much bigger than your vehicle. But, what dangers should you look out for?
Stay back if you notice erratic or dangerous movements
Is the truck drifting from lane to lane? Is the driver making last-minute maneuvers without proper warning or signaling? Are they speeding or braking sharply? All of these actions can indicate that the driver is not paying attention or may even be falling asleep at the wheel. In these circumstances, the best thing you can do is to keep your distance. Make sure that you aren’t in the truck’s blind spot by keeping far enough back that you can see the wing mirrors and don’t make any sudden or unpredictable movements.
Look out for uneven loads
While trucking companies should make sure that the loads on their trucks are correctly and safely loaded, this isn’t always the case. There are times when driving next to a truck where you might be suspicious the load is uneven due to the poor truck driving or you may even be able to see the load moving around. In this case, if you can pass the truck safely you should do so to get out of the way. If it’s not possible to get past the truck, be sure to keep right back.
There are times that accidents occur at the fault of truck drivers no matter how much you try to avoid the dangers they pose. In these circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation if you find yourself injured as a result.