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Chatham-Kent Safety Village Chatter
Sharing the Road with Trucks
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Stay Visible When Behind a TruckWhen you come to a stop behind a truck, keep to the left of your lane so the driver can see you in his side mirror. Remember if you can't see the truck driver in one of his mirrors he/she probably can't see you.
Roll Back
Always leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the truck to prevent roll back incidents which can happen when a truck driver is forced to stop on an upgrade.
As the truck driver takes his foot off the brake and releases the clutch pedal, the truck may roll back a few feet. Remember he may have a very heavy load and has many gears to shift to get going.
Avoid Tailgating
Never tailgate, particularly trucks. The truck's size will almost totally block your view and you will have to rely on his brake lights for a signal that something is going on in front. At the same time you will be in one of the truck driver's blind spots.
Stopping Distances
Never pull in front of a truck without leaving adequate room. Between your vehicle and the front of the truck. Trucks can't stop on a dime and you might be the cause of a jackknife or a major crash
Backing Up
When a truck driver is backing up he has to use side mirrors. Even though they are very large mirrors, they still leave a big blind spot. So be patient and never cross behind a truck which is preparing to back up.
Passing Trucks
The same rules apply for passing a truck as for passing a car. The first step in a safe pass is to check the traffic front and rear. Don't pull out if you're being overtaken by traffic from behind or if there is other traffic approaching.
Once you have decided to pass and see that the way is clear -- don't hesitate. Declare your intention to pass and follow through as quickly and safely as possible.
Before re-entering the lane in which the truck is traveling, wait until you see both of the trucks headlights in your rear-view mirror. This will ensure you are an adequate distance from the truck.
Lastly, be sure you maintain your speed when you are in front of a truck. Truck drivers work hard to get up to normal highway speeds, sometimes shifting through as many as 15 gears. For this reason trucks take longer to get up to highway speed and must work harder to maintain their speed.
Right-hand Turns
Always pay close attention to truck turn signals. Many car drivers do not realize that a truck approaching an intersection to make a right turn may move to the left to avoid running the trailer onto the curb. As the truck moves left, a narrow, temporary lane is created to its right. At this point, the driver of a car may move up on the right side of the truck and become vulnerable to a "squeeze" when the truck swings into its right turn.
Keep the Centre Lane Open
The centre lane is the trucker's passing lane. On many major roadways transport trucks are forbidden from using the high speed (far left) lane. That means they rely on the centre lane as their passing lane. If you travel in the centre lane be sure you are traveling at the posted speed limit.
Keep Your Distance
Keep a large space cushion around your car -- increase your space cushion even more when near large vehicles like trucks and buses. They need extra space and time to manoeuvre and stop.
Blindspots
Any area where a vehicle's visibility is restricted is called a blindspot. The driver of a vehicle may not see persons and other vehicles in these blindspots. Larger vehicles generally have larger blindspots.
Here are a few tips that will help you to deal with these blindspots:
Driving Behind Trucks:
If you can see the truck's mirrors, then the driver can probably see your vehicle. You may make your vehicle more visible by positioning it slightly left of the centre of the lane.
Driving Beside Trucks:
When you must drive beside a truck, do not assume that its driver is aware of your presence. Take extra precautions when overtaking and always try to anticipate changes in traffic flow.
Driving in Front of Trucks:
Be sure to provide clear indications of your intentions and avoid making sudden changes in speed. Try to anticipate changes in traffic flow before the changes effect you.
Construction Zones
Each year, thousands of serious injuries occur in construction zones. It is very important that all motorists pay attention to all the signs when entering a construction zone.
These include:
Distance to the construction zone;
Reduced speed limits;
Changes in traffic flow;
Changes in lanes;
Workers and construction equipment operating on or near the road.
There will often be a construction worker posted to control traffic or provide other directions to motorists. This person is called a traffic control person. Always pay attention to the controller's directions.
Above all, use common sense. Always reduce your speed, increase your following distance, stay alert, be cautious and patient when travelling through construction zones. The safety of yourself and others depends on it.
Resource: Ontario Trucking Association
