Truck accidents account for a significant portion of motor vehicle accidents every year. Due to their size and unwieldiness, they make up a disproportionate amount of catastrophic motor vehicle accidents. According to the National Safety Council, trucks account for ten percent of all fatal car crashes while only representing four percent of registered vehicles in the US.
To avoid becoming a part of this statistic, you can practice a few driving habits that help keep you safe on the road. Keep reading this article to learn more about preventing truck accidents.
Pass with caution
Do not pass or cut in front of a semi-truck without a significant amount of room. Also, you should leave more room behind commercial trucks when you follow them. The reason is that trucks require more time to stop and cannot react as fast as passenger cars.
Trucks bring a lot of potential for disastrous failure, including tire blowouts and tipping. If you pass a truck, do so quickly to remove yourself from the danger area.
Stay away from blind spots
If you cannot see the truck driver’s mirror, they cannot see you. This is the most dangerous spot to drive when sharing the road with a large truck. Trucks also have a more prominent blind spot on their right side, so always pass to the left when possible.
Sharing the road with trucks is a necessity for driving in Illinois. The long open highways present many opportunities for motor vehicle accidents, so you need to practice safe driving habits. Drive defensively and avoid spending too much time maneuvering around commercial vehicles.