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Take Extreme Care When Overtaking
One cannot stress this enough but when you overtake a truck, ensure that there is plenty of room for you to carry out this manoeuvre safely. Don’t muck around! Overtake quickly without going over the speed limit and move back into the lane only when you can see both truck headlights in your rear-vision mirror.
Trucks Have Large Blind Spots On Both Sides
Trucks also have a blind spot beside the left door. Therefore, it is best to drive where the driver can see you – well in front of and/or well behind the heavy vehicle.
Have Patience
Trucks (particularly roadtrains) are ‘massive’ vehicles and often need to enter or leave roads, driveways or loading docks. Be aware also that the road may be blocked while the truck is reversing. Never attempt to go around the back of a reversing vehicle because in most instances, the truck driver will not see you. In addition, there may be a hazard on the other side that you can’t see as the truck is blocking your visibility.
Keep Well Left
Trucks use the whole lane they’re in, so try not to drive too close to the centre line on a road. When a truck overtakes you, air turbulence may cause a buffeting effect, particularly if you are towing something.
Give A Truck Plenty of Space To Break
Pretty self-explanatory really but I’ll make it abundantly clear – trucks are larger and heavier than cars and take longer to stop safely. There is a sure risk of collision if drivers in front of a truck brake suddenly. At 90km/h, a truck can take twice the distance to stop as a car.
Keep A Safe Distance
Only idiots tailgate other vehicles, and even bigger idiots tailgate heavy vehicles. If you can’t see the side mirrors of the truck in front of you, the truck driver can’t see you either.
Lights At Night
There is no anti-glare position on a Truck’s mirrors. Using high beams can dazzle the truck driver and contribute to their fatigue. Dim your lights when approaching any vehicle.
Give Plenty Of Warning Before Changing Lanes Or Turning
Truck Drivers need extra space to clear corners and intersections, overtake and change lanes. Keep a safe distance from trucks so they are able to manoeuvre safely.
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March 30, 2010
A well written, sensible piece of advice that is saddened by your personal association.
This is a problem throughout the world. In the UK nearly all major roads are three lanes only. The first & second lanes are nearly always filled with trucks who are overtaking each other which forces the normal motorist out in to the fast lane. If you are not comfortable at driving at maximum speed in this lane motorway driving can be a very scary thing which in turn can increase the risk of accidents.
As trucks come out to the middle lane to overtake I see so many drivers who sit in the middle lane swerve out to the fast lane to get out of their way!!!
March 30, 2010
Interesting driving tips and a tragic death anniversary remembered. Well done, Elle.
March 30, 2010
Very well presented. Truckers must read this article.
March 30, 2010
A well written post and a good warning for all road users. It was so sad to know you lost your friends through such an avoidable accident.
Christine
March 30, 2010
Excellent advice.
March 30, 2010
Very useful tips!
March 30, 2010
A very well presented article Elle. I am scared by these big trucks, they go so fast and take so long to slow down. I hope this article is read by all road users.
Sorry to hear of your friend and daughter.
March 30, 2010
Very good article and advice Elle dear. This is so ironic that you published this article since where i live, we have had 12 people die from accidents with 18 wheel trucks. A family of 10 were killed on a local interstate highway when they were hit head-on by an out of control truck. Then just yesterday two tree trimming workers were also killed by a 18 wheel truck that lost its brakes going down a hill. So i can surely relate to this very instructional article Elle dear. Very well done.
March 30, 2010
Thanks everyone for your condolences .. she was at fault .. but it was still a tragedy given that she was only 28, and there was a baby involved that she loved to death .. the truck driver underwent some serious therapy as even to this day, he believes it was his fault .. my inspiration for writing this article
Lisa Leverton ~ I would like to return the favour but I can’t find you here .. thanks very much for your comment…
Hfj a few weeks ago .. there were something like three truck and car collisions in a week! Thanks for your commentary bud
March 30, 2010
A tragedy is always going to happen if we don’t heed safety advice. Any time is a good time to remind our friends. Nicely written and beautiful arrangement Elle.
March 30, 2010
Sorry to hear about your friend and her daughter.
A must read for road drivers.
March 30, 2010
Sometimes the glaringly obvious needs to be hammered home. Well put, Elle. Until a few years back, I was a lorry driver and I could tell you some horror stories—all of which, involved cars.
Today, over here in Britain, the main problem can be lorries from other european countries. Because they’re driving on the left, with left-hand-drive, their blind spot is huge. One, a few months ago, pulled out of a lay-by and in a mad moment completely forgot he was in Britain and drove off on the right hand side. He rounded the first corner and hit a car coming the other way head-on—killing the car driver instantly.
March 30, 2010
I was sorry to hear of your friend and daughter, it is a well presented article on the topic and one meant for the discussion in a forum. Apart from accidents there are cowboys on the road I myself when I first drove my first car had to get off road while two trucks raced yaking up the whole road.
March 30, 2010
Sorry about your friend and her child Elle.
Another grand article girl.
Most lorry drivers are exceptional drivers and they need to be, manoevering such large objects about the highways.
Car drivers on the other hand are far more prone to making mistakes while driving alongside such vehicles. There will always be exceptions of course and results are often tragic. Some great advice given here maestro.
March 30, 2010
An article any driver should take stock of LY and sorry about your girlfriend and her bub Elle PANS from you Elly girl:)
March 30, 2010
Sage, topical advice. My adrenaline always shoots up when I have to pass a truck or convoy of trucks.
March 30, 2010
This has always been a problem, made even worse as the truck drives are made/pushed to stick to a time schedule, leaving them no other option than to hoof it.
The road-trains here fare freak me out being so big and demanding the road.
I bet you Elle miss your friend, very sad indeed.
March 30, 2010
Great article Elle. It is always wise to stay out of truckers blind-spots.
March 30, 2010
elle there is an annoying ad that i can’t close over your opening paragraph. But this is a good article with good information.
March 30, 2010
I think this sight is great! Keep up the good work. BTW….It always makes me laugh that these guys criticise Marrone from their couch and the guy has totally turned around this program from the ash heap.