The majority of Australians are accustomed to traveling by vehicle in a crowded mix of cars, bikes, trucks, and buses. Due to their familiarity, however, a lot of people eventually forget about or decide to disregard the risks associated with driving close to trucks.
Truck drivers do their best to drive safely on our roads, but it is the responsibility of all drivers to stay out of truck blind spots and steer clear of the numerous other known risks when sharing the road with trucks.
In this article, we provide you with a number of driving safety pointers and show you how to identify truck blind spots.
Learn the truck blind spots
Where a driver cannot see other cars is known as a blind spot. Blind spots are a common feature of trucks of all sizes and shapes. You can prevent disaster by being aware of the extent and location of these danger zones or blind spots. Truck blind spots are:
immediately behind the pickup.
across the truck’s two sides.
extending into the left-hand lane and directly in front of the truck.
next to the left door of the truck.
The golden rule is to swerve quickly into the driver’s side mirrors if you can’t see his face there.
Don’t linger at the side of a truck
Even though the law says to keep left unless overtaking, many motorists on the highway choose to “sit” in the middle lane. This practice puts everyone at risk, especially when people “sit” beside a truck in its blind spot. It could get really messy if the driver needs to change lanes for any reason. Keep to the left and safely and decisively pass trucks.
Pass safely
In comparison to cars, trucks require two times as much space and time to stop. Because of this, you ought to avoid cutting in front of trucks. Keep in mind that there is a blind spot right in front! It’s a good idea to pull up in front of the truck once the entire front of it is visible in your rearview mirror.
Avoid tailgating
Another big no-no is tailgating. Both the driver and you are blind to what is happening in front of you. Retract your steps until you can see your side mirrors on the left and right.
Keep clear for wide left turns
Truck drivers frequently need to make a wide right turn before turning left. You might end up wedged between a truck and the curb if you ignore the indicators on a truck. Always pay attention to the truck’s indicators, stay out of their way, and give them room to turn.
Other safety tips for drivers
Here are a few other really useful tips to make sure your next encounter with a truck is a safe one:
When stopping or turning, always give truck drivers plenty of warning so they can avoid you.
Turn off cruise control before passing a truck. To pass and spend as little time as possible in a truck’s blind spot, you should move faster. Naturally, make sure that your increased speed is safe.
Make sure the driver of the truck sees you by keeping an eye out for it in the mirrors.
Never attempt to pass a truck that is slowing down.
Never pass a truck that is reversing while walking or driving around it.
Heavy haulage workers, like all truck drivers, take responsibility for their own safety while operating a vehicle. However, it is also the responsibility of other motorists to avoid blind spots, leave enough space for trucks to turn, and drive steadily and predictably.
Regarding truck driver safety, NHH has an admirable track record. We put a lot of effort into operating without mishaps, property damage, and—most importantly—employee injuries as mass freight and heavy lift specialists.