Do you drive trucks frequently? You probably feel like you know all the road safety rules but that might not be true. Make sure that you follow these tips to reduce the likelihood of getting into an accident:
Know the Safe Braking Distance
The bigger the truck you are driving, the longer it will take to screech to a halt. An 18-wheel truck takes about 40% longer to come to a complete stop. If you are used to maneuvering smaller cars, it will take longer for you to understand trucks.
Follow Road Signs
You need to follow road signs for your own safety. You should not just pay attention to surrounding vehicles and stick to the speed limit; you also have to follow traffic rules and road signs. You could take extra driving classes such as defensive driving course by Driving Guide to learn more about road safety.
Most truck drivers tend to drive over the speed limit, which often results in loss of control. Driving at high speeds makes it easier to lose control at sharp turns and bumpy surfaces.
Let Tailgaters Overtake
To avoid road accidents, you need to stay away from drivers who seem to be driving recklessly or too aggressively. A tailgater is a driver who drives too close to your car. This is not safe because the driver deprives himself enough deceleration space in case you make a sudden stop.
If you do not want to accelerate to create more space between you and a tailgater, you should consider moving to a different lane. Whenever possible, you should let the tailgater pass you. Whatever you do, you should not forget to use your turn signal. Moreover, you need to be on the lookout for hazards and other cars on the road.
Be Wary of Blind Spots
If you want to prevent road accidents, you need to maintain good visibility. Operating a big rig is dangerous because trucks have many blind spots when compared to smaller cars. Make sure that you change lanes as few times as possible and look at your side mirrors every ten seconds to increase your awareness.
Moreover, you need to acquaint yourself with the blind spots on your car as well as other cars on the road. Big trucks have big blind spots on the sides, back, and around the front. In the same vein, you should also avoid hard decelerations, braking, and cornering.
Follow HOS (Hours-of-service) Rules
These rules exist to increase safety on the road by minimizing driver fatigue. According to research, driver fatigue is a leading cause of accidents on the road. When you drive longer than your recommended HOS, you put your life and the lives of other drivers at risk. Moreover, it causes HOS violations, so you should ensure compliance at all times.
Do Not Drive While Distracted
Driving while distracted is one of the biggest causes of road accidents. According to the NHTSA, delayed driver reactions cause ninety percent of rear-end car accidents. Because you operate a bigger vehicle as a truck driver, you need to be extremely careful because larger rigs have more blind spots and take longer to decelerate.
You should avoid all types of distractions from texting while driving to using your phone. Concentrating on the road ahead of you will help you to remain safe on the road.
Conclusion
The above tips will help you to avoid accidents while operating a truck. At the very least, it will help prevent DOT violations and help you keep your trucking authority. If you are new to truck driving, you need to drive at slower speeds in the beginning. You can increase your speed once you learn how to maneuver the rig.