Big rigs, also known as 18-wheelers, semitrailers, or trailer trucks, can be intimidating vehicles for new drivers to engage with while traversing the many interstates, highways, and other roads these cargo-carrying machines. Fortunately, there are several reliable pieces of advice that you can rely upon to avoid feeling like Optimus Prime is coming at you like you are a Decepticon.
Step One: Think Like a Trucker
One of the best ways to gauge interacting with a big rig is to consider what things are like from its driver’s position.
- There is a lot of weight in that cargo trailer. A fully equipped big rig easily weighs over 10,000 pounds.
- You have a more restricted field of vision when driving a big rig.
- Braking/stopping takes much more time than a car would require, meaning the driver needs more time to react to an accident or errant driver.
- Even after accounting for multiple car lengths, big rigs need more space to drive on the road.
- Such vehicles will frequently bear a sticker that they take wide turns; the inclusion of a trailer means that the driver needs more slack to execute the same turn as a traditional vehicle.
- Many drivers of these vehicles may be tired and operating at less than optimal sleep. The government agency that oversees this industry allows drivers to be on the road for up to 11 hours a day.
“On Your Left”
If you need to pass a tanker truck along the interstate, do it on the vehicle’s left side. Further, do this quickly and with full awareness of your surroundings. By moving quickly, you minimize the time spent driving in any of the driver’s blind spots.
Caution is King
Avoid spending a lot of time close to a truck in transit. Even when the driver can see you, other things can arise that the driver may not be able to mitigate. For example, a diesel has enough wheels to keep going after a blowout but the rubbery debris from that blowout can strike your windshield. When harsh precipitation is involved, keep several car lengths behind the truck or drive more than one lane across to avoid having your vehicle slide underneath the trailer.
The Laws of Lighting
Avoid using your high beams whenever you are behind a big rig or passing one. This will avoid blinding the driver and leading to an accident.
Pull Over First, Stop Second
If there is ever a time while driving on the interstate and you need to stop, either to take an emergency phone call or you have had an accident, first pull over to the side. If you cannot pull over, be mindful of trucks behind you, and be sure to preemptively signal or brake early to give the truck time to slow down and stop.
Deny Distractions
If there is one universal law to driving under any circumstances, it is to avoid distractions. We mention this in the context of driving around trucks because of the additional potential for disaster; 2022 saw over 5,800 fatal crashes involving diesel trucks, a figure 49% greater than 2012’s data.
Summary
You will inevitably share the road with a big rig and following some simple safety tips will ensure that you can stay safe when driving near these vehicles. In 2022, there were nearly 6,000 fatal trucking accidents in the US. Modesto, California alone recorded 34 serious truck accidents that year. To summarize everything: avoid distractions while driving, pull off of the road before stopping on the interstate, try not to blind truckers with your high beams, always drive cautiously around these vehicles, and favor the left side when driving on U.S. roads.
