SURVIVING ON THE ROADS WITH TRUCKS
Posted on Mon, Jan 25, 2010 @ 01:33 PM
If you share and discuss only one article with your friends and families (especially your young drivers) it must be this one. It could literally save their lives.
Part of a continuing series on Professional Truck Driving and highway safety by Kevin Mullen, Director- Safety at ADS LOGISTICS CO, LLC.
Fact: A tractor trailer (with properly maintained brakes) requires at least 335 feet to stop at 55 MPH. Many automobiles can stop in half that distance.
Reality: If you pass a truck and cut back right in front of it you are putting yourself (and any occupants) at great risk of serious injury or death should traffic stop abruptly.
The graph below indicates a safe stopping distance for cars and trucks at various speeds.
Solution: Never pull in front of a truck until you can see the entire truck in your rearview mirror.
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Fact: Trucks have blind spots [No Zone] on both sides. Never ride alongside a truck. The driver may not be able to see your vehicle.
Reality: Unable to see you, the driver may turn or change lanes striking your vehicle. A truck tire blow-out can cause catastrophic damage to a passenger vehicle.
Solution: Never travel alongside (or close behind) a truck, pass quickly and safely or reduce speed and fall back a safe distance. Never stay in the No Zone.
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Fact: Trucks require extra room to turn right. Many must pull to the left (even left of the lane) in order to turn right. This is called "off-tracking". Trailers need to "off-track" further right than tractors due to their poor turning radius.
Reality: If you “assume” a truck isn’t turning (even though the turn signal is on) and pull up on the right you risk having the trailer run over your vehicle, again putting you and any other occupants at great risk. The tractor's mirrors don’t show the side of the trailer during turns, so the driver won't see you!
Solution: Observe “Wide Right Turn” decals and mud flaps on trucks. Don’t be in such a hurry that you place your vehicle in a "No Zone" in order to save a few minutes. Give trucks making right-hand turns plenty of room.
Nearly 5,000 people die annually in crashes involving large trucks. Don’t be a statistic!