Safety Tips For Driving Tractor Trailers

Many New York drivers will claim that they dislike to share the road with commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, and big rigs – and that the larger, heavier vehicles make New York roads and interstates more dangerous places. But the truth is that all drivers must learn how to safely share the road and reduce the number of NY truck accidents.

One way that the drivers of cars, motorcycles, and pickup trucks can help reduce the number of truck accident injuries in New York is to learn how to safely pass a tractor-trailer while on a multi-lane interstate. Here are a few tips:

• Never go over the speed limit to pass a truck. Speeding is a leading cause of car accidents in New York, and speeding while passing a big rig is even more dangerous than speeding on open road. If you have to speed to pass a truck, you are better off staying behind it.
• Be aware of cross winds. All vehicles create a draft when they drive, and large truck create a more powerful draft. Especially when high winds and cross winds are involved, your car could be blown toward or away form the truck while you are passing. Be aware of winds and drafts, and don’t over-correct or over-steer if you feel your car being pulled by wind.
• Be aware of blind spots. Just because you can see a truck doesn’t mean the driver can see you. Understand that being directly behind or diagonally to the right or left of a truck might render you invisible. In some cases, a truck may try and change lanes without knowing you are there.
• Don’t cut in front of a truck too early. After you are done passing a truck, don’t cut back into the truck’s lane without giving the big rig plenty of room. Tailgating is always dangerous – but with a truck it can be very deadly. Because a truck takes a long time to come to a stop, if you stop suddenly while driving too closely in front of a truck, you could be rear-ended by a very powerful vehicle.