Have you ever found yourself in the middle of traffic due to big trucks? Well, you probably have, and you were furious because you were late for one of your important meetings or night outs. I think that you will no longer be furious after reading this article since we have some tips & tricks on how to avoid blind spot accidents that will come in handy at one point in your life.
What are semi-trucks, and what are their blind spots?
A semi-trailer truck, often known as a semi-truck or 18-wheeler, is a type of transportation carrier made up of a tractor unit and one or more semi-trailers. A hitch connects a semi-trailer to a tractor, and the tractor bears the majority of the trailer’s weight. The four largest blind spots on 18-wheelers are:
- around 20 feet in front of the truck’s cab;
- 30 feet behind the truck’s trailer;
- and 20 feet behind the truck’s trailer;
- the area under and behind the driver’s window, as well as the right side of the cab, diagonally rearward
- On the other hand, truck drivers have little control over these blind spots, although there are ways to avoid collisions.
Top 6 ways to avoid semi-truck blind spot accidents
1. Adjusting the blind spots in the mirror towards the end
There is no blind spot on the sides of the truck if the car’s side mirrors are adjusted in a certain way. With such a strategy, accidents can be drastically decreased, especially during lane changes. Frequently, the strategy is ignored in driver education sessions, and it necessitates a period of adaption. Calculated dead center elimination by well-trained drivers is not expensive and avoids the need for pricy technology solutions to the problem if drivers take the time to properly set up and use their mirrors.
2. Use turn signals early on
Even though this is an extremely important aspect of the driving process, it is rarely used by drivers. When you want to change lanes, it is crucial to alert other drivers on time and at the right moment! Using turn signals properly, and will reduce the possibility of causing accidents on the highway. This is especially crucial when you’re on a highway since cars and trucks are moving at high speed. When you’re using turn signals accurately, you’re letting everybody know in which direction you’re going. If you’re neglecting to use signals, you’re putting yourself in a position to cause an accident where you’re facing fatal crashes or at least fines & damage worth hundreds of dollars, if not thousands.
3. Do not come too close to trucks
As it has been already established, one of the truck’s blind spots is about 30 feet behind it. When you consider this, you don’t want to stand too close to it. The truck’s driver will have difficulties seeing you if you’re tailgating, i.e. standing too close. Driving further from the one in front of you is easy to maintain when you’re on a highway, and you are given plenty of space. Nevertheless, it is more difficult to maintain this when you’re in congested traffic, hence you should be more attentive than usual! You never know when the other truck will stop, and you might not have the time to hit your brake.
4. Other drivers must know what semi-truck blind spots are
Once you decide to sit behind the wheel, you, as a driver, must know all the rules of the road. This, of course, includes you knowing the blind spots of all vehicles, especially trucks. There are loads of drivers who are not even aware that trucks and semi-trucks have blind spots, let alone where they may be. Hence, it is really important to become familiar with these. How can it be done? Well, the blind spots should be visible to all drivers and should be put on the sides and rear of the vehicle in all circumstances, so that everybody knows how to approach vehicles, but also to know what to do to avoid possible accidents.
5. Never rely only on the mirrors
You can never rely only on mirrors while driving. Sometimes, other cars can’t be seen from the mirrors, whether we talk about the side ones or panoramic one. You should occasionally check for other cars from the window (but never push out your head through the window; always keep your eyes out on the road). If you’re traveling on your own, you should be more careful and rely fully & solely on yourself. However, if somebody is traveling with you, let them help (there is a reason why (s)he is called front seat passenger), and they should check the road. You will be able to keep your eyes on the road and avoid possible accidents if you do it this way!
6. Don’t linger for too long in truck’s blind spots
When you change lanes, a truck driver may warn you that you’ve entered their blind spot, but if you stay there too long, it might become an issue. Because your automobile isn’t visible from its perspective, the driver may feel you’ve already passed through its blind zone, causing an accident if he tries to slow down or move sideways. If you can, get out of the truck’s blind spot whenever possible; you’ll probably save more lives than you think!
Want to be a responsible driver and get all info you need?
There are a lot of people who still don’t know what blind spots are, as well as what vehicles have them. Brooks Law Group will give you all info that you need! They provide a short animation to help everyone comprehend these concepts better & in a beginner-friendly way. With their help, you see the issue from the driver’s perspective. They are available 24/7 – you can call them or send a message with any questions or further inquiries. There is also an online chat for quick & easy communication. Get a free case evaluation and enjoy their service.