When a person in Delaware attends driver’s education, he or she learns various tips and tricks to stay safe on the road. For truck drivers, there is an added responsibility of handling a relatively massive vehicle that has the power to easily cause serious injuries or death if they are in an accident. Trucking safety is always evolving, and avoiding truck accidents should be a huge priority for truckers and their employers.
Perhaps contrary to popular assumption, most truck accidents actually occur during the daytime, in good weather and on dry, non-curved pavement. Not surprisingly, given this information, countless truck accidents are avoidable. Of course, all drivers have the responsibility of following the rules of the road and not driving in a negligent manner. For a truck driver, negligence can take many forms, including not paying attention. An inattentive truck driver has the potential to cause a lot of damage in a moment of distraction.
Truck drivers are often taught to be aware of smaller cars driving around them on the road. Indeed, a car can easily drive into a truck’s large “blind spot” and be stuck there due to other traffic. Truck drivers need to exercise constant vigilance regarding their blind spots, just as drivers do. Unlike most passenger cars, trucks also have blind spots in front of them and directly behind them.
In some situations, a truck driver may let his or her vehicle drift backwards a bit before taking off–it’s helpful for passenger car drivers to maintain a safe distance from trucks even when at a stop, just as trucks must do regarding all other vehicles. Trucks making a turn must also be careful to avoid hitting cars alongside them; a smaller car can easily get run over by a slow-moving truck making a simple turn.
Regardless of whether one is driving on a freeway or a suburban street, awareness and vigilance can save a life and prevent a semi truck accident. Trucks and smaller cars can share the road safely. This accomplishment, though, requires constant attention from all types of drivers.
Source: National Traffic Safety Institute, “Truck Safety Tips,” accessed March 11, 2016
