Sharing the road with large trucks is easier said than done, as these vehicles take up a lot of space and truckers don’t always obey the law.
There are a variety of tips you can follow to maintain your safety when sharing the road with large trucks in Mississippi, with these five among the most important:
- Avoid blind spots: Just because you can see a truck doesn’t mean its driver can see you. There are blind spots on all four sides of a commercial truck, so do your best to stay out of these areas. For example, if you drive next to a truck for an extended period of time, the driver may lose sight of where you are.
- Keep a safe following distance: This should hold true no matter what types of vehicles are around you, but it’s particularly important with commercial trucks. By leaving enough space, you’re in position to stop, without incident, in the event of an emergency.
- Pass safely: When driving on the highway, there will be times when you need to pass a slow moving truck. It’s okay to do so, as long as you follow the rules of the road. This means maintaining a safe speed, using the left lane and leaving enough space when pulling back in front of the truck.
- Watch for wide turns: Truckers have no choice but to make wide turns when driving in the city. If you get stuck next to a truck when it’s making a wide turn, you increase the likelihood of an accident.
- Remain patient: For instance, it’s easy to become impatient when driving behind a slow truck. If you let this get the best of you, there’s a greater risk of an accident.
When you follow these tips, you’ll feel more confident in your ability to stay safe when sharing the road with large trucks.
If you’re injured in a car-truck accident, move to the side of the road and call 911 to explain your situation. Responding paramedics can provide medical treatment, while police can take control of the scene.
Once you’re able to do so, contact your insurance agent to file a claim. This is also a good time to learn more about your legal rights for seeking compensation from the negligent party.
