Telling Teens How To Share The Road With Large Trucks

Do Young Drivers In Louisiana Know How Dangerous 18-Wheelers Can Be?

For all the talk in Louisiana about truck driver fatigue and crashes caused by malfunctioning truck brakes, we could easily overlook the fact that more than 50 percent of large truck crashes with passenger cars are caused by the passenger car driver.

Far too many car drivers, especially young ones, unnecessarily endanger themselves by failing to recognize that trucks are different, and handle differently.

A fully loaded tractor-trailer weighs up to 80,000 pounds, or roughly 20 times the weight of a car with four occupants. Traveling at 55 mph, such a truck would take 430 feet to stop. This is the length of two football fields and a 90 percent longer distance than what a passenger car would need. 430 feet is also what it takes to stop if the pavement is dry, if all tires are in excellent shape, if the brakes are all well maintained and balanced, and if the truck driver reacts instantly. Take away one or two of these ideal conditions and the stopping distance increases sharply.

Don't cut off trucks.

When passing a large truck, never move back in the truck's lane right before the truck. Think of the 430 feet! Truck drivers hate being cut off; it forces them to slow down to increase the gap with your car to a safe distance, and it takes them a long time to get back to their original speed. Never stay long with a huge truck at your tail. Think of what would happen if you are forced to slam the brakes. Accelerate and move away to another lane.

Stay out of the truck's blind spots.

Trucks have large blind spots; their height and the trailer prevent the truck driver from seeing vehicles that are left and right from the tractor, and of course all those that are behind the trailer. Don't be surprised if you drive at almost the same speed next to a semi-truck, and it suddenly veers of its lane and forces you to brake or move away.

The NO ZONES are the ones where the truck driver can't see a passing or following vehicle.

Teen drivers can't be too cautious when it comes to sharing the road with tractor-trailers.

If you have been involved in a tractor trailer accident, contact the New Orleans truck accident attorneys of the Young Firm for a free evaluation of your case.