All vehicles have blind spots. These are areas, particularly to the rear and sides of the vehicle, in which a driver’s vision is impaired. In larger vehicles like commercial trucks, blind spots are accentuated.
Avoiding entering the blind spots of trucks is an essential component of road safety. Here are a few steps that you can take.
Know where the blind spots are located
The first step is to recognize where the main blind spots are on larger vehicles. The areas that are especially dangerous include directly behind the vehicle and the passenger side. In large vehicles, a driver may not be able to see anything that is closer than 30 feet behind the truck or to the passenger’s side.
Follow at a safe distances
It’s always smart to keep a safe following distance behind any vehicle, but this is especially the case when driving near large vehicles. To help ensure your safety, you may want to extend your following distance beyond the recommended 3 second rule. When a larger vehicle is turning or reversing, it is especially important to keep a safe distance from it.
Look out for turn signals
A dangerous time for road users can be when a truck is turning. Ideally, the driver should signal in plenty of time to alert others on the road of their intentions. It’s always worth paying particular attention to a larger vehicle’s brake lights and turn signals so that you can anticipate the driver’s moves.
Despite taking safety measures, you may still be hurt by another driver’s negligence. If this has happened to you, it’s important to explore your personal injury compensation options. Having legal guidance can help you seek fair compensation for your expenses and other damages.