5 Tips for Sharing the Road with Big Rigs

Finding yourself driving alongside a large truck is always a nerve-wracking experience, but one which is common on highways and major roads around the country. Considering that large trucks are 20 times heavier than normal cars on average, it’s only natural to have a bit of trepidation when you see one coming up next to you.
 
For beer enthusiasts who frequently travel to breweries, beer festivals, or distribution hubs, it’s even more important to stay vigilant on the road. These vehicles can pose unique challenges to smaller passenger cars, so understanding how to safely share the road with them is crucial to reducing accidents. Recognize the key limitations and characteristics of big rigs through the following five tips so that you can take proactive steps to ensure safer roads for everyone. 

The Challenges of Driving Near Trucks

Sharing the road with big rigs requires a keen understanding of the inherent challenges that come with driving alongside them. Before diving into the tips that will help keep you safe, it’s important to also look at what issues you may run into. First of all, the visibility of trucks is narrower, and their blind zones are significantly bigger compared to other types of vehicles. These zones are referred to as “no-zones” and are the areas that are safe for you as a driver not to be found in.

The “no-zones” on big rigs are located right in front and at the rear and on both sides near the center. Another way you can tell that you are in a “no-zone” is if you cannot see the face of the truck driver in their side mirror. 

The second problem you are likely to encounter concerning a truck is its ability to stop or come to a halt. Due to this weighting, it takes more time to get to stand still compared to lighter vehicles such as cars, this is because trucks offer a much larger frontal area that has to be slowed down. This is why when you are merging or are in front of a large truck you should know that it may require up to 300 feet for the truck to come to a complete standstill.

Additionally, trucks need wider turn radiuses available to them, especially when making right turns. Trucks usually have to swing wide into an adjacent lane to make the turn, and misjudging their movement can lead to a dangerous accident. Along the same vein of thinking, trucks are often carrying heavy or uneven loads that you can’t see in the back which may experience cargo shifts. This can affect the stability of the truck, especially if they need to make a sharp turn or sudden stop. 

5 Tips for Staying Safe Around Big Rigs

Now that you are aware of the major dangers that come from driving next to trucks on the road, it’s time to take a look at some of the ways you can keep yourself safe. The following five safety tips will help you to be a better driver the next time a truck appears: 

1. Avoid Blind Spots

As mentioned, trucks have “no-zones” on many of their sides so one of the easiest ways to avoid a wreck is to avoid these spots. To refresh, this means you should avoid being directly in front of, to the side of, or behind a truck. If you do need to go into these areas, try to do so as briefly as possible to avoid accidentally getting into a wreck. 

2. Allow Adequate Space

Trucks take longer to stop as previously discussed, so you should allow for a longer following distance when behind a truck. Tailgating one can be especially dangerous as the truck driver might not see your vehicle and you may accidentally rear-end them if they need to stop suddenly. Similarly, when you choose to merge in front of a truck, avoid cutting them off and ensure they have ample space to brake.

3. Be a Predictable Driver

Building off the prior point, the longer stopping time means truck drivers need a longer reaction time as well. To that end, you should focus on being a predictable driver on the road to avoid causing a wreck. Make no sudden movements and always use tools such as your turn signals so that truck drivers on the road don’t need to guess what you’ll do next. 

4. Pass Safely and Efficiently

When you decide to overtake a truck due to its slower speed, you should do so quickly. You should also make the pass from the left side as it offers better visibility for the truck driver. Avoid surpassing the speed limit or lingering next to the truck when taking this action as both can increase your risk of being in a collision. 

5. Respect the Turn Radius of a Truck 

If you see a truck ahead of you signaling that it is going to turn, don’t try to pass them to get around. They will need enough space to make that turn which means they will likely need to go into the other lane slightly. If you try to pass it can lead to you being pinned against another obstacle. Have patience to ensure safety on the road. 

For those making trips to breweries, beer festivals, or even delivering a fresh batch of craft beer to an event or store, respecting truck movements is vital. Many rely on trucks for the transportation of kegs, hops, and other essential brewing supplies. So, allowing trucks the space they need not only keeps the roads safer but also helps ensure the seamless delivery of the beer we all enjoy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Driving Near Trucks

Avoiding dangerous behaviors can go a long way in significantly reducing the risk of accidents on the road, especially when trucks are a factor at play. The specific mistakes you should avoid making on the road include:

• Never stay in a truck’s blind spot for a prolonged period
• Avoid passing on the right side of the truck
• Don’t tailgate a truck or cut them off quickly 
• Watch for the signal of truck drivers to ensure you aren’t interrupting their movements
• Don’t make sudden moves around a truck that force them to react quickly 

Truck drivers should also practice defensive driving on the road and ensure that their trucks are properly maintained to reduce the risk of accidents. On top of this, truck drivers must always use signals as well to indicate their movements given how wide they often are. 

Working Together To Build Safer Roads

Road safety is a shared responsibility between regular car and truck drivers. By being aware of the various risks that trucks present to other vehicles on the road then one can be able to decrease the number of mishaps on the roads, especially those involving trucks and other vehicles. 

Whether it’s giving a truck more space on the road or understanding its blind spots, practicing road safety ensures that your journey to enjoy craft beer or transport anything is both smooth and secure. So, next time you hit the road, commit to these tips to make safety your top priority and arrive at your destination ready to raise a glass.