An accident involving a truck is almost always much more devastating than a two-car crash, due to the weight and size of the truck and the force with which it hits. It’s no wonder that many drivers are afraid of passing trucks on the freeway. It is important to understand the elements that make passing a truck so dangerous, so that you can know how to do it safely.
Might be hard for the trucker to see
Due to the structure of the truck, there are large “blind zones”, or areas of the road that the trucker cannot see even with his mirrors. A car entering one of these blind zones disappears from the trucker’s view.
For example, due to the lack of a rear window, a trucker does not know what is immediately behind his truck. If you are behind a truck and change lanes to pass it, the trucker may not even know you were there.
There is also a blind zone on both sides from the truck. These are the space between what the trucker sees with his mirrors and what he sees if he looks out of his window.
How to pass them safely
Pass the truck on the left. Do not enter the left lane too close to the truck, to give the trucker more time to see you approaching. Go at a normal speed, and don’t stay in the blind zones for more than necessary.
Remember that a truck needs a lot more room to stop. Do not enter the lane in front of the truck without leaving plenty of room for you to stop if you need to slam on the brakes for any reason.
It is impossible to completely avoid the possibility of a truck accident, because so much depends on road conditions and the attention of other drivers. But when you can, it’s best to remember the best way to pass a truck, to keep yourself and your family safe on the road.
