Tips to share the road safely with trucks

You are driving on a road and suddenly a massive truck drives in the lane next to you. This is a nightmare for most motorists.

You begin to freak out. Your palms are sweaty, your knees  are weak and your arms are heavy.  Arrive Alive has released some life saving tips on how to share the road with trucks safely.

READ: Bakkie into truck crash claims motorist’s life

Avoiding blind spots and no-go zones:

Front no -go zones: Cutting in front of a truck can be a fatal mistake. At 80km/h, it takes the length of about a rugby field (100 metres) for a truck to come to a complete stop. Allow at lease one car length for every 16km/h you are travelling before merging in front of a truck. When passing a truck, never cut in front of it and then slow down.

Side no-go zone: Trucks have extremely large blind spots on both sides. Even with large side-view mirrors, truck drivers can’t see everything around them. Driving in these areas can be dangerous.  Stay out of a truck’s blind spot. If you have to pass, give yourself plenty of space and extra time. Avoid driving alongside a truck for long periods of time.

READ: Trucks collide, strike pedestrian on South Coast Road

Rear no-go zone: Truck drivers often don’t have a rear-view mirror to look through, so they have to rely heavily on their side-view mirrors. If you’re behind a truck and can’t see the driver’s face in his or her mirror, then they can’t see you.  Don’t draft or tailgate. Give yourself a following distance of three seconds.

Wide turns: Trucks make wider turns than cars. So be aware that a truck may need to swing wide, either to the left or right to avoid sidewalks, signs and utility poles. Drivers who stay aware and give trucks room will be safe.  Give trucks plenty of room to turn safely.

DID YOU KNOW?