Why do large trucks need to make such wide turns at intersections?

I would refer to the WB-62 design vehicle, which means a multi-unit tractor-trailer combination that has a 62 foot wheel base. This truck is actually about 69 feet from nose to tail. There are also the WB-40 and the WB-50 and the WB-65. For trivia purposes, the WB-65, which is 74 feet from nose to tail, is the vehicle used when designing interstaets and interstate ramp terminals.
The importance of the design vehicle becomes clear when you start putting together the design of intersections and sharp curves. Larger trucks need more room in order to make turns. The rear wheels of a truck–well, of any vehicle, really–will run to the inside of the front wheels. This wider path made during a turn is called overtracking, and its why you see large trucks swing out really wide when they’re making right angle turns at intersections. The distance and width needed to ensure that the rear wheels of the design vehicle stay off the edge of pavement, or out of the adjacent lanes, can add a lot of cost to a design project.
Next time you’re walking in an area that has curbs and you come to an intersection, look at the corners. Do you see tire tracks up against the curb faces? Do you see tire tracks on top of the curb, or on the sidewalk? Are the corners, maybe including the pedestrian ramps, broken and cracked? If any of these are true, it means most likely that truck drivers are running their rear wheels up and over the curbs when they’re trying to make turns. This could be becuase the driver isn’t very good, but more likely it’s because there’s not enough room for the trucks to clear when taking their overtracking into account.
Large vehicles are also important to consider when we’re designing intersections and considering the time it takes to accelerate. For example, the distance you need to be able to see to your left, or to your right, when you’re trying to turn onto a roadway. On a 45 mile per hour road, with no other consideations, that distance should be 500 feet if you’re driving a car. If you’re driving a tractor trailer, then I have to add another 270 feet! A football field worth of view, basically. That means no hills, curves or bushes to block the view of that truck driver trying to make a left turn.

Trucks Make Wide Turns
With a height up of up to 14 feet, fully-loaded trucks have a much higher center of gravity than typical passenger vehicles, or even SUVs (4.5 feet – 5 feet and 6.5 feet high, respectively). High centers of gravity make it easier for trucks to tip over. They will often move into adjacent lanes prior to and after a turning maneuver to avoid driving over a curb or sidewalk or hitting a car in an opposing travel lane.
Don’t try to sneak past the right side and squeeze around them – it may be the last mistake you’ll ever make.
Watch for the truck’s turn signal to see what the driver intends to do. Occasionally, truck drivers will fail to signal or the trailer signal light may be inoperative. Never attempt to cut in along the right side as the driver maneuvers left or you way become sandwiched between the turning truck and the curb. Safe drivers will avoid the truck’s No-Zones and wait to assess the truck driver’s intent before passing.
As a general rule, avoid passing trucks while turning and never pass them on the right side.
Don’t Crowd an Intersection
Many intersections are marked with stop lines, indicating where a driver must come to a complete stop. Crowding an intersection means to stop beyond the stop lines, leaving your vehicle exposed to trucks attempting to turn, as well as other vehicles and pedestrians. Crowding an intersection is illegal and puts you at risk of being hit by trucks and other vehicles turning from other areas of the intersection.
Download the wide turns fact sheet (pdf)
A semi’s height (up to 14′), length and weight make it nearly impossible for the driver to make tight turns like regular cars and trucks. A fully-loaded truck also has a much higher center of gravity than typical passenger vehicles and SUVs, making it easier for a truck to tip over. Read more in the PDF.

04 Jun Safety Matters: Trucking
Driving a truck comes with a number of constant hazards that drivers need to be aware of in order to keep themselves and others on the road safe. Share the following Safety Matters with your drivers.
Avoiding Right Turn Squeeze Crashes
Large commercial vehicles can be challenging to maneuver, particularly on residential and city streets. Taking a turn too sharply or widely can lead to costly accidents and serious injuries. One common type of accident is the right turn squeeze crash, which occurs when a truck driver makes a wide right turn, leaving too much distance between the truck and the curb. When doing so, other drivers on the road may try to squeeze past the truck and could end up getting their vehicle caught underneath the truck’s trailer.
In order to make right turns as safe as possible, drivers should be aware of their environments and the potential challenges that they may impose. For example, a particularly narrow intersection can make right turns especially dangerous.
It is also important that the vehicles and trailers are in proper working order. A broken turn signal or a lack of adequate mirrors will make any type of driving unsafe.
There are many steps to making a turn. As a truck driver, you have a responsibility for not only your own safety, but that of pedestrians and other drivers as well. When making a right turn, adhere to the following steps in order to make the process as safe as possible:
- Prepare for the turn by moving into the right-hand lane as early as you can.
- Activate your turn signal well in advance, and reduce your speed.
- As you approach the intersection, observe the area and make sure that you will be able to safely complete the turn.
- When beginning your turn, keep the rear of your trailer in the right-hand lane and close to the curb.
- Avoid swinging wide to the left or crossing into other lanes.
- Use your mirrors to check for other vehicles, pedestrians or obstructions.
- Never back up when completing a turn.
If you are unable to finish a turn, wait for other traffic to clear to do so.
As a driver, safety should be your top priority. If you find that a turn may not be possible, it is better to take a slight detour and ensure that you will be able to get to your destination safely. A small delay is far less costly than an accident. If you have any questions about making right turns safely, talk to your supervisor.

Truck drivers admittedly recognize that making a right turn with their long and heavy loads is not easy. Every experienced big rig driver will admit that negotiating a right turn can be downright dangerous and likely have many accounts they could tell demonstrating this.
Clearly, the size of the big rigs themselves require that the big rig operators understand the special techniques required to negotiate right hand turns and be even more vigilant for pedestrians and vehicles around them while they negotiate the turn.
A common scenario leading to a collision between a big rig and an auto during a right hand turn is due to the ‘swinging rear.’ As the truck makes its right turn, the rear of the trailer will swing in the opposite direction. In other words, to the left. This can cause a portion of the rear end of the truck end to up several inches (perhaps even feet) over into the adjoining lane. Should a car be there while the truck is ‘swinging’ over into the lane and comes into contact with another car, the force has at times caused these cars to be then pushed out of their lane and into the next adjoining lane resulting in the middle car getting crushed. The collisions are especially dangerous when the car that got hit by the rear of the big rig gets pushed in a lane involving traffic going in the opposite direction.
The size and length of many tractor trailers is an issue when negotiating the right turn which can be compounded if the street is not very wide. Oftentimes, truck drivers find themselves actually crossing the double lines of a two way street in order to get their big rig setup to complete the right hand turn. Therefore, many 18 wheeler tractor trailer collisions involve vehicles that were heading in the opposite direction of the big rig but were struck during the turn.
Pedestrians can also be crushed during a right hand turn scenario. At times, a pedestrian will pass while the big rig while it is negotiating the right hand turn. Many pedestrians, especially children, have nearly no experience walking near big rigs and may not take into consideration that the big rig will come swinging back. Other times, a big rig operator will simply end up crossing into the bike or pedestrian lanes taking the bicyclist or pedestrian by surprise. Sadly these accidents usually result in severe injury or death.
We at the Law Offices of Edward A. Smith respects those in the big rig community and the services they provide our nation. Many tractor trailer operators have years of safe driving habits. Many, however, have not been adequately trained in safety.

Semi-trucks can pose a serious danger to other vehicles on the road.
Semi-trucks and 18-wheelers are not easy to drive and maneuver. Even some standard maneuvers are hard to execute because of their large size and weight. Truck drivers must exercise extreme care and consideration when making turns or entering lanes with merging traffic. Other motorists should understand why semi-truck accidents happen and how to avoid them.
Dangerous Right-Hand Turns
The most difficult maneuver executed by a truck is a turn. When a right-hand turn is required, the truck driver will first turn the truck towards the left and then start making the right-hand turn. This can pose a danger to the vehicles on the left and right of the truck during the turn.
When the truck swings to the left, the cab of the truck is in another lane, possibly leading to a sideways collision by a vehicle coming in that particular lane. The left swing can also appear to be an attempt to change lanes and the motorists in the right lane may think that the right lane is free and they may attempt to pass the truck. However, when the truck starts turning right, the vehicle in the right lane can get caught between the trailer of the truck on the left and the curb on the right. This can cause a lot of damage to the vehicle and can result in catastrophic injuries to the occupants.
Establishing Liability For an Accident
A collision between a semi-truck and a car is dangerous for the people involved; however, the damage will be much higher for the car. Truck drivers are required to follow additional rules that specify how to act in various situations that may emerge while they are behind the wheel.
In case an accident occurs between a truck and a car and the truck driver is held liable for the crash, the driver or the trucking company would be required to pay for damages, injuries, and loss of income suffered. In many cases it might be difficult to establish liability, so it is advisable to consult an experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer to ensure that your rights are protected and you receive the compensation you deserve. Call The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. at (314) 361-4242 for a case evaluation.

Wide Right Turns a Big Road Hazard
Over 4,000 people die in large truck accidents annually, and out of those deaths, some 68 percent of them are riding in a passenger vehicle. Accidents involving large trucks can be devastating simply due to the weight and size of commercial trucks. They can weigh up to 40 tons, compared to one to five tons for an average passenger vehicle. One of the most common types of trucking accidents involves wide right turns which are exceptionally dangerous because they can result in head on collisions. If you have been injured in a commercial trucking accident, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Why Wide Right Turn Accidents Occur
If you visualize how a truck has to make a right turn it is easier to understand how these accidents happen. The size of a truck makes it hard to maneuver a truck. To manage these turns, a truck must swing the truck to the left first. This can result in one of several types of right turn accidents. If the truck swings their vehicle to the left too far, it can veer into the next lane of traffic and strike the vehicles there.
The second type of wide right turn accident occurs if the truck driver doesn’t go far enough to the left before attempting to turn right. The failure to swing sufficiently to the left can cause the truck to roll over. This can be devastating enough because it could cause cargo to spill onto other vehicles or the roadway or result in a fire. In even more devastating situations, the truck could roll over on top of nearby vehicles.
The third common type of wide right turn accident occurs where there are two right turning lanes. When a truck turns, it may veer into the second turn lane. If a car is in that lane, it may be trapped or crushed by the turning truck.
Although a truck driver should always use a turn signal to indicate their intentions, many drivers fail to realize how much a berth a truck needs to make a right turn. This may result in them not giving the truck enough space.
Determining Liability in a Wide Right Turn Accident
If you have suffered injuries in a wide right turn accident, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries and damages. However, who pays the compensation depends on who is liable for the accident.

Do you commute daily on the highway to and from work? Or maybe you’re getting ready for a cross-country road trip or just a trip to visit family. Perhaps you’re driving, or maybe your teenager will be getting some interstate driving practice. Regardless of who’s driving and where you are travelling, watch out for truckers. There are 3 inherent dangers when it comes to driving near truckers on the interstate. Take a moment with your family, particularly the less experienced drivers in your family, to review these hazards.
Wide turns. Truckers need extra space when turning – they aren’t just trying to annoy you, their vehicle is so large it needs extra space to be able to complete a turn. That may seem more annoying than dangerous, and you may be tempted to try to go around them, but if you get caught between a turning truck and another vehicle, it could result in serious damage and injury. Any time you’re driving near a large vehicle, make sure to give them extra space to avoid a collision.
Blow outs. Ever noticed those black pieces on the side (or in the middle) of the interstate? Those come from tire blowouts – meaning a truck’s tire gave out and basically exploded on the road. If you happen to be driving next to a truck when this happens, it can cause multiple hazards. First of all, it’s loud – it can startle drivers. Second of all, it can cause a truck driver to lose control of the vehicle – meaning they could swerve into your lane. When this happens, it’s unexpected for both the truck driver and the other vehicles on the road. To avoid this, leave extra room for trucks and when passing, and do so as quickly as is safely possible.
Wind. Have you ever been driving on a windy day and felt the wind move your car? You may think that doesn’t happen to trucks because they are larger and heavier, but that’s not the case. In fact, large trucks can be even more susceptible to wind and, not only could the wind move the truck, it could even cause the truck to flip on its side. As you may have noticed from our first two hazards, the best way to avoid danger in these scenarios is, again, to give the trucker extra room. You should always be giving extra space to truckers, but be extra cautious if you notice it’s a windy day.

A commercial driver is trained to leave plenty of space around the truck or bus. In our smaller vehicles, we often see this space as a convenient avenue to a lane change. Do not cut in front too soon after passing a truck or bus. You should not pull back in until you see both of the truck’s headlights in your rearview mirror.
Do not follow closely
If you are too close behind the bus, truck or RV, the driver probably cannot see you. You also cannot see the road in front of the driver. Leave yourself extra following distance, so you have more time to react and a better view of the road ahead.
Watch for the commercial driver’s signals
Trucks and buses make wide turns. A collision may occur when a truck or bus swings left to make a wide right turn, and an unaware driver tries to pass on the right as the bigger vehicle starts to swing right again.
Beware of no-zones
Places where a truck driver cannot see you are referred to as “no-zones.” No-zones are immediately in front of trucks, in back of trucks and to the side of trucks. If you cannot see the truck or bus driver in their side view mirror, the driver cannot see you.
Commercial Vehicle Awareness
Be Visible, Be Safe, Be Truck Aware.
Watch the Road
- Leave 15 seconds of time and space to slow down
Don't Drive Drowsy. Take A Break. Drive Awake.
- Watch for signs of drowsiness like blurry or heavy eyes, spacing out, or the inability to remember road signs
- Pull over and take a break; take a walk and stretch to get your body and blood flow moving again
- Adhere to continuous driving hour restrictions and do not exceed the limit
- Without a seatbelt, you are 25 times more likely to be thrown from your vehicle.
- It's the Law!
- Follow safe driving and speed limits while being mindful of turns and road curves
Check Blindspots Frequently
- Continuously checking blind spots and your mirrors will help eliminate missed vehicles surrounding you as you drive, merge, or turn
Be Aware of Weather
- Weather Conditions can make the road mor hazardous than normal
- Slow down and take precautions! Ice and limited visibility due to weather could impact your driving at any time
For additional information, see the state of Ohio CDL manual or visit the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office.

- Anticipate that a tractor-trailer will make wide turns. If a truck has a turn signal flashing, do not try to squeeze by the truck. When stopped at intersections, do not stop in front of the line. Trucks need that space to make wide turns.
- Be sure to wear your seat belt when in a car.
- Do not drive while impaired under any circumstances.
- Watch out for other drivers who may be impaired, and report them to the police.
- Avoid distractions and keep your eyes on the road.
- Leave early and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.
Contact a Commercial Truck Accident Attorney Today
Have you been hurt in a commercial truck accident in South Carolina? If another driver was at fault, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and other expenses. Accidents involving commercial trucks may involve several insurance companies and can be more complicated to resolve. You will benefit from the guidance of an experienced S.C. truck accident attorney. Contact Joye Law Firm today for a free consultation with a South Carolina commercial truck accident lawyer.

It is always best to assume that the driver cannot see you and to drive accordingly.
Make Sure They Have Room to Turn
The size of large trucks also makes it difficult for them to make turns. Large trucks make wide turns. Give them extra turning space. They often swing wide and may even start a turn from a middle lane. Give them room and never try to squeeze by a turning truck or enter the space between the turning truck and the curb.
Stay Away from Them When It’s Raining or Snowing
If you have ever shared the road with a large truck when it was raining, snowing, or there had recently been rain or snow, you know that another danger of sharing the road with a large truck is the spraying and splashing it creates. Snow, water, and mud can all get splash off a truck’s large multitude of tires onto a car’s windshield. This can seriously compromise your visibility. Give trucks extra space under these kinds of weather conditions.
Truck Accident Injury Attorney
If you have been involved in a truck accident, you may have suffered catastrophic injuries. Attorney Randall F. Rogers is here to provide dedicated legal counsel to you during this difficult time. He will fight for your right to full and fair compensation for the harm you have endured. Contact us today.
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) lists these tips for how to avoid problems between drivers of regular sized vehicles and large trucks:
- Avoid the blind spots, or no zones, surrounding the truck
- Pass safely and quickly, and look for the driver in their mirror
- Never cut a truck off
- Leave plenty of space between you and the 18 wheeler
- Anticipate the truck’s wide turns
- Don’t speed so you have time to react
- Always wear your seatbelt
- Pay attention to the road at all times
- Make predictable decisions while driving so other drivers can anticipate your next move
By following these tips, you can stay as safe as possible on the road and lower the danger of sharing the road with large trucks. Truckers are trained and certified to navigate the road on their large rigs, but sometimes they make mistakes too. That’s why it’s important to always be vigilant and pay attention to what everyone else is doing on the road.
Our Lawyers Can Represent You
At Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC, we understand that collisions with large trucks can be devastating. Not only can they cause you serious physical injuries that change your life, but they can also affect you emotionally and financially. You could even suffer from injuries that keep you from returning to work, leaving you unable to earn the wages you need to support yourself and your family.
Our truck accident lawyer can help you fight for your rights and hold the negligent truck driver, trucking company, or part manufacturer responsible for their actions. We know that you want to get back to normal and financially recover as best as you can. That’s why we’re here to help you. Reach out to our office today so we can start discussing the ways we can help.

Truck drivers must be aware of the limitations of their vehicles at all times. They make wide turns, for example, that can cause accidents. They have significant blind spots not shared by other vehicles. All of this makes driving a truck vastly different from driving a car, and an inexperienced or negligent driver can injure others if he or she makes serious mistakes.
One of the major differences is that a truck takes much farther to stop than a passenger car. In fact, it probably takes a truck much longer to stop than you realize.
Nearly twice the stopping distance is necessary
An easy way to think about this is that it takes close to two football fields for a truck to come to a full stop if the truck was moving at 65 mph. That is, of course, assuming that road conditions are excellent, that the braking system on the truck is in good condition, etc. Technically, some experts say this should take 525 feet.
A passenger car, on the other hand, usually just takes around 300 feet to stop. There are many reasons for this, with weight being perhaps the most important. A passenger car probably weighs around 4,000 pounds, even with passengers inside. The truck, on the other hand, can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. This is such a massive difference that it’s impressive that it doesn’t take an even greater distance for the truck to stop.
What if a negligent truck driver hits you?
A truck driver who is not paying attention and who does not apply the brakes in time can suddenly find themselves facing a rear-end accident that they can’t avoid. If you’re injured in a crash like this, you need to know what legal steps to take to seek compensation.

The Ever-Present Danger of Tractor-Trailers
There are a few reasons why tractor-trailer wrecks can be much more dangerous than car wrecks. The obvious one is the size and weight of these vehicles. A tractor-trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. That’s 16 times the weight of your average passenger car! With that much mass, any wrong move by the trucker can be deadly.
On top of that, tractor-trailers do not have good braking ability. They need a long time before they can come to a full stop, which can be detrimental in a last-second situation.
Another contributing factor is semi-trucks’ lack of maneuverability. Because these trucks take a while to brake, turn widely, and can’t easily move in and out of tight spaces to avoid a suddenly stopped car or road debris, they have more of chances for a crash.
Lastly, many of these trucks are carrying dangerous or hazardous materials on board. Things that are flammable, or can be explosive. Those types of materials can turn a minor collision into a large-scale tragedy.
Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents
Here are the common causes of big truck crashes:
- Improperly loaded cargo: If the truck is improperly loaded, the load can shift and overturn the truck, or slip off and injure those behind the truck.
- Bad driving: A driver who fails to follow road rules and behaves aggressively can easily cause a crash.
- Stopped truck: When a truck is stopped on the side of the road, leaning into traffic, there is always potential for a collision with a car that didn’t see it in time.
- Rear-ending: Due to their poor braking ability, trucks have a hard time stopping abruptly if the vehicle in front of them makes a sudden stop.
- Turning left: Trucks can be quite slow with their turns. If there isn’t enough time for them to turn, it could lead to a collision.
- Underride: An underride happens when a passenger car collides with a truck and runs under it. This type of accident usually ends in severe injuries or fatalities.
- Fatigue: Drivers of big trucks have long distances to travel. Sleep-deprivation and tiredness play a huge role in truck-related crashes. In 2013, new federal laws were put in place to curb the number of hours a commercial truck driver can be on the road.

In some cases, drivers may see this space as an opening to cut in and turn. However, this may increase their risk of crashing. Therefore, motorists should watch for signals in order to determine truckers’ intentions and refrain from cutting in between large trucks and curbs.
Do prepare for wind gusts
Especially when they are traveling at high rates of speed, commercial vehicles often create turbulence. These wind gusts may cause unprepared motorists to lose control of their vehicles. Thus, it is advisable for people to keep both hands on the wheel and expect turbulence when they are passing large trucks, or are being passed by these vehicles.
Consult with an attorney
As a result of truck accidents, people in Colorado may suffer injuries that require extensive medical care. This may result in lost income, medical bills and other damages for which the trucker could be held liable. Thus, it may benefit those who have experienced such situations to work with an attorney. A lawyer may help ensure their rights are protected and explain their options for pursuing financial compensation.

Truck drivers are a valuable resource to the United States economy, but they pose a high risk of danger to other drivers on the road. Annually, over 1.5 million tractor-trailer accidents lead to injury and/or death in our country.
There are four main reasons why tractor trailers are so dangerous:
1. Lack of Maneuverability. Because of their size, tractor trailer drivers have a hard time avoiding road hazards. A semi-truck needs more time and space than the average vehicle to change its course.
2. Poor Ability to Brake. A tractor trailer needs at least 350 feet to come to a complete stop from a travel speed of 60 mph.
3. Size. Tractor Trailers with full loads can weight around 80,000 pounds. This is 16 times heavier than a car. With that much weight, impact of a tractor trailer is devastating.
4. Dangerous Cargo. Tractor trailers carry a variety of dangerous cargo, such as flammable, toxic, and/or explosive items. This type of cargo can turn a minor accident into a catastrophic event.
Truck drivers and trucking companies contribute to many of these safety problems in the following ways:
- Driver fatigue. The Federal Motors Carrier Safety Administration puts a limit of 70 hours per week on truck drivers. Those drivers are also required to take sufficient breaks. However, economic concerns encourage drivers to ignore these rules.
- Excessive Speed. Truck drives tend to drive at unsafe speeds, in order to meet quotas, delivery deadlines, and bonuses.
- Improper Training. Learning to drive an 80,000 pound tractor trailer requires special training, and it isn’t uncommon for the importance of this training to go unappreciated.
- Driver Distraction. Truck drivers spend many hours away from home and in their vehicles causing them to engage in unsafe behavior, including texting and driving.
- Poor Maintenance. Tractor trailers are required by Federal Law to receive routine maintenance checks. Ignoring this requirement can lead to preventable and deadly accidents.
Injuries caused by tractor trailer accidents are much more complex than an ordinary car accident case, and negligence in these types of cases doesn’t just fall on the truck driver. Trucking companies may be held liable if unsafe practices and procedures are found to be the cause of the accident.

Longer wheel bases on motorhomes and trucks towing RV trailers make it necessary to change your turning patterns. You must turn wider at intersections or the rear wheel may roll over the curb. Go further into the intersection before starting the turn and adjust your lane position to increase the turning radius.
Curves in the highway can also be tricky. Stay more to the center of the lane for right turns so the rear wheels will not move off the pavement. For a left turn or curve, stay more to the right of the lane to prevent the back of the trailer from tracking into the oncoming lane
Recreational vehicles have a high center of gravity, so turning corners and taking curves must be done at slower speeds to prevent swaying. Slowdown before you enter the curve. Be sure you use your rear-view mirrors to watch tracking and tail swing.

FOLEY, Ala. -- Drivers of large trucks wanting to turn at downtown intersections could be rerouted around the city in an effort to reduce congestion, safety hazards and curb damage, local officials said.
State and city engineers met Tuesday to study a proposal to require trucks needing to turn off Ala. 59 or U.S. 98 to use the Foley Beach Express. Since 59 and 98 are state-maintained highways, Foley must have approval from the Alabama Department of Transportation before imposing any restrictions, Wendell "Butch" Stokes, city engineer, said Wednesday.
Stokes said that if the proposal meets state approval, Alabama highway officials would tell the city what kind of signs and regulations are needed to put the restrictions in place.
He said trucks trying to turn at downtown intersections, particularly Ala. 59 and U.S. 98, often tie up traffic.
"That's exceptionally tight," Stokes said of the turn.
The plan would not restrict trucks traveling through Foley without turning.
"The basic problem with downtown truck routing is trucks trying to make turn movements off 59 or off 98," Stokes told City Council members at the last Foley work session. "If they were going straight through town, that's not a problem. So what we've done is talked about possibly moving all the truck-turning movements to the intersection of 98 and the Foley Beach Express."
Stokes said trucks making local deliveries will still be allowed to turn within the city.
Mayor John Koniar said trucks often back up traffic and run over sidewalks while trying to negotiate the tight turns downtown.
"Curbs are being torn up and plants are being ruined," Koniar said. "It's a tight turn and traffic has to back up some time to make it; it's not a good safety situation."
Trucks on Ala. 59 would get off the highway at the intersection of the Foley Beach Express on the north side of the city if they needed to turn onto U.S. 98. The vehicles would then go south on the Beach Express and turn on U.S. 98, Stokes said. Trucks coming north on Ala. 59 would turn on Baldwin County 20 and then to the Beach Express if they needed to go east or west on U.S. 98.
"All of the turning movements will be done out here at the Foley Beach Express and 98," Stokes said. The intersection of the Beach Express and Ala. 59 is about three miles north of U.S. 98.

Similarly, if I’m working on signal timing, and I know that large trucks are going to make a significant percentage of my traffic stream, then I have to include the additional time it’s going to take to move each truck through the intersection. I can’t just make an assumption based on cars or I’ll end up with a huge congested mess and people calling me and asking what the hell I was thinking.
Then of course, trucks impact how we design pavement! Trucks make a much larger impact on the asphalt and concrete than a typical car for one simple reason: they’re much heavier. So pavements have to be designed to handle the types and quantitiels of trucks that are expected.
Lastly, at least for this podcast, is noise and air pollution. Trucks make up a big part of the noise and air pollution that we transportation engineers have to take into account nowadays. It is possible that when designing a new roadway, the additional noise may be so great that we have to install soundwalls in order to avoid impacting the surroundings. Trucks add a lot to that noise level, so again, it’s important to know what type of vehilce is being designed for.
And that’s it about trucks. There is more that I could discuss, getting into the juicy engineering details, but that covers all the basics.
Thanks for listening to talking traffic. If you like what you heard, or didn’t, be sure to let me know by leaving a comment on the show notes or sending an email to bill at talking traffic.org.
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Until next time, have a great week.

Head-On Collisions: Why Negligent Truckers Cause These Tragic Crashes
When fully loaded, a typical big rig weighs approximately 80,000 pounds, depending on cargo. A typical passenger vehicle weighs about 4,000 pounds. At an average speed of 65 mph, a semi-truck needs more than twice the stopping distance of a passenger vehicle. If a trucker doesn't have the time and space to avoid a crash, the force of the impact can be devastating. Unfortunately, head-on collisions are the leading cause of fatalities in truck accidents, causing 57.5 percent of all deaths in 2014.
Causes of Deadly Head-On Collisions
A head-on truck collision occurs when the front of a semi crashes into the front of another vehicle. Truck driver errors are usually the underlying reasons these wrecks occur. Common causes include:
- Crossing the centerline. Whenever a trucker crosses the center lane, for whatever reason, a head-on collision is the likely result, as there's little time or space for lane correction.
- Making wide turns. If a driver doesn't navigate a turn properly, he can cross right into another vehicle's lane.
- Speeding around a curve. While speeding is never safe, doing so on a curve can make a trucker lose control of his truck and cross over the center lane.
- Going through a stop. If a truck driver runs a red light or goes through a stop sign without the right of way, he can cause a head-on collision with a driver legally turning left in the intersection.
- Passing improperly. When a truck driver attempts to pass a vehicle on a two-lane road or highway and doesn't have enough clearance, he could hit an oncoming vehicle if he has insufficient time to get back into his lane.
- Causing a jackknife accident. Sharp turns and avoidance maneuvers sometimes causes a truck to jackknife, sending it head-on into other vehicles.
- Driving when drowsy. If a trucker is fighting to stay awake or falls asleep at the wheel, he can veer into oncoming traffic.
- Engaging in distracted driving. A distracted driver may be involved in talking on a cellphone, texting, looking at a GPS, or eating and drinking—behaviors that greatly reduce reaction time.
If you or a family member was injured in a head-on truck collision, call our office today to schedule your free consultation with Alan Morton.

These turns are dangerous for the driver, pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
In fact, according to the latest highway safety data, 31% of all serious accidents involve left hand turns.
The percentage of right-hand turns that cause a problem?
Did you also know that all of the delivery routing programs for companies like UPS and Pepsi preclude left hand turns across traffic because early studies by MIT determined they were not only time-consuming but dangerous (and companies wanted to avoid the expense associated with their drivers being badly hurt and their trucks incurring substantial damage in the event of being struck by an oncoming vehicle).
Now fast forward to driverless cars. The engineers designing these modern marvels claim that “teaching” a driverless car to safely manage a left-hand turn is in fact one of their most difficult challenges facing product developers.
“How can that be,” you ask?

Driving a tractor-trailer requires tremendous skill, experience and attention. For this reason, truckers must qualify for special commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) in Texas before they can get behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler. In addition, commercial vehicle drivers are subject to stricter rules designed to protect the safety of motorists.
However, drivers face unique challenges when operating extremely large and heavy trucks that put even the most professional, careful driver at risk of an accident. And, alarmingly, too many truck drivers are distracted, intoxicated, impaired by drugs, sleep-deprived, inexperienced, and/or driving too fast so they can bring home a bigger paycheck.
You can take simple steps to avoid a tractor-trailer accident including:
- Do not decelerate suddenly in front of a truck unless necessary: Even an empty tractor-trailer is very heavy and requires a longer time to stop. A fully loaded semi can take a distance of three football fields to stop. By remaining alert to hazards ahead of you, you can slow down gradually so the truck driver has more time to react.
- Let a tailgating trucker pass you: If a semi is following close behind you, move out of the way as soon as it is safe to do so.
- Don’t tailgate an 18-wheeler: Tailgating any vehicle is a bad idea. However, because you cannot see around a tractor-trailer, you may be unaware of heavy traffic, stoplights and other issues that require the truck to brake.
- Be mindful of blind spots: Think about your surprise to realize that a car or motorcycle was travelling in your car’s blind spot. Now imagine this blind spot multiplied several time over on a tractor-trailer. Your car remains out of view while you are behind the truck and as you pass. You do not become visible until you are about parallel to the tractor.
- Be patient — Getting stuck behind a semi can be frustrating, but wait until you can safely pass. These few moments of patience could save your life.
- Be predictable and use your blinker — Avoid making erratic lane-changes and use your blinker to alert the semi driver of your intention to switch lanes. Remember big rigs are not as easily maneuverable as a car and so the driver cannot respond as quickly.
- Pay attention — You have a duty to concentrate on your driving.

If a trucker has his turn signal blinking, leave room for the truck to merge or change lanes. Indicate your willingness to allow the truck in by flashing your lights.
- Finally – Be patient while trucks turn or back-up. It often takes time and concentration to back a trailer up without hitting anything and sometimes a truck driver needs to make several attempts to reverse in tight quarters or to make a turn.
Do your part to stay safe. Driving responsibly, defensively, and sharing the roads can help reduce the number of injuries and fatalities caused by crashes with large trucks.
If you or a loved one has been in an accident involving a tractor trailer and would like to learn more about your legal rights, please contact me at (561) 366-9099 or by email at email@example.com

For years, the trend has been towards more, longer, heavier, faster, trucks. Trucking companies and independent truckers lobbied for these changes in state highway regulation to squeeze more profitability out of their trips.
Forces of physics rule, however, when an accident involves big trucks. The heavier, longer, and faster the truck, the more the driver’s reactions, experience and skill, and the truck’s brakes, steering, and tires must compensate for. Operators’ maneuverability is further compromised by added truck length or the addition of multiple trailers. Of course, a truck even with current legal limits on mass and velocity will crush the largest SUV or pickup truck. Unfortunately for thousands yearly, this means that being involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer doubles the likelihood of fatality.
Truck freight is predicted to increase significantly. “The Annual Energy Outlook 2009 (AEO), projects annual truck vehicle miles traveled (VMT) to grow by 2.5 percent per year, for each of the next 20 years [Energy Information Agency, 2009].This projection comes despite a first-time-ever decline in U.S. truck VMT in 2007 and 2008 because of high fuel prices and some recessionary pressure.
The more trucks on the road and the faster, longer, heavier, and less maneuverable they are, the greater the chances of injurious and fatal accidents. As congestion mounts on our crumbling Interstate Highway System, the risk is driven higher. In 2002, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) estimated average daily long-haul truck traffic in the U.S. and mapped it.
Federal Highway Administration, U.S. DOT, 2003. Click image to download a full size view.
The thickness of the red line corresponds with the daily volume of heavy truck traffic on that highway. Here is what the U.S. DOT anticipates will be the truck volume on U.S. highways in about 25 years:
Federal Highway Administration, U.S. DOT, 2003. Click image to download a full size view.
If DOT projections are correct, certain highways will become little more than national truck routes.

Delivery vehicles are often large in size to accommodate the goods/substances being delivered, which means they are unwieldy and difficult to stop quickly. Their size combined with the stopping difficulty means that anybody who happens to get in their way will be difficult to avoid and will not come off well in a collision. Even if the vehicle managed to swerve out of the way, it can still cause significant damage to structures if it were to hit them and cause health hazards if it were to spill its contents. Plus, large vehicles can be difficult enough to control in favourable conditions, but can be extremely dangerous in conditions found in locations such as construction sites where mud and gradients can make driving conditions treacherous.

CNN explores a burning question: why do commercial delivery couriers always favour right hand turns? Apparently these services save “millions of gallons of fuel each year, and avoids emissions equivalent to over 20,000 passenger cars.” with this one practice. By avoiding left turns, you are avoiding delays that can make for traffic build ups. Even a left turning phase adds approximately 45 seconds to a left turn.
And there is more-“a study on crash factors in intersection-related accidents from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Association shows that turning left is one of the leading “critical pre-crash events” (an event that made a collision inevitable), occurring in 22.2 percent of crashes, as opposed to 1.2 percent for right turns. ” Over 60 per cent of crashes happen while turning left, compared to 3 per cent of crashes involving right turns.
Information from data collected by New York City’s transportation planners conclude that pedestrians are three times more likely to be killed from left turn vehicles. The UPS carriers assess all the routes to avoid left hand turns to minimize idling time and increase time sensitivity. They have rebooted Google maps to reflect routes that minimize left hand turns, a practice developed in the 1970’s with the term “Loop Dispatch”.
While this works great for pre-planned routes, in daily driving routes are less random. But when you see a big company courier truck making a left turn in traffic, you will know they are deviating from the “Loop Dispatch” plan.

The Hazard Perception Test
Safe gaps - turning right
Right turns are more complicated than left turns because you need to look for traffic approaching from the left and right. You may also need to give way to pedestrians crossing the road that you are entering. At an uncontrolled intersection (four-way intersection with no Stop or Give Way signs) you may also have to watch for approaching traffic.
Features of right turns
Right turns are generally less sharp than left turns.
The next picture shows the path taken by a left and right turning vehicle. While you have to cover more road to complete a right turn, because it is shallower you can generally accelerate quite quickly. This is necessary because you need to quickly match the speed of the traffic on the road that you are entering. As with left turns, the faster the traffic, the more time and space you need to complete a right turn.
Guidelines for right turns
Gap selection for right turns is a skill that will take time and practice to develop. Here are some guidelines to help.
If you are turning right in a 60km/hour zone you will need a gap of at least 4 seconds between your car and vehicles approaching from the right, but a gap of at least 6 seconds from the left. The following picture illustrates this. This assumes that the traffic is travelling at 60km/hour - it may actually be faster - and that there is no on-coming traffic.
You need a smaller gap on the right because you will more quickly "clear" the traffic approaching from the right. But you need a bigger gap on the left because you need time to complete the turn on the far side of the road and accelerate to the speed of the traffic. Because it will take you about 3 seconds to get to the other side of the road, a 6 second gap to the left allows you 3 seconds for accelerating to the speed of the stream speed of traffic you are entering.
Turning right at a cross intersection
Turning right at a cross intersection (ie one with four directions) with oncoming traffic and traffic from the right and left, is harder. You will need to look three ways to judge a safe gap - to the front and the left and right. As shown in the picture below, you are also likely to be facing a Stop or Give Way sign.

Why Is An Accident Involving A Commercial Vehicle More Dangerous?
Accidents involving commercial trucks can result in serious injuries or death because commercial trucks are significantly heavier than passenger vehicles and sometimes carrying hazardous or flammable materials. A typical fully-loaded, large truck can weigh more than 80,000 pounds, while an average passenger automobile weighs approximately 3,000 pounds. Due to this size disparity and the basic laws of physics, any collision between a big rig or other commercial truck and a smaller passenger vehicle is likely to result in serious, even fatal, injuries. Truck drivers and trucking companies are held to higher legal standards than most other drivers, so if you have been injured in an accident with a commercial vehicle, you may be entitled to reimbursement for your injuries and other damages.

I got a taste last spring, when TriMet offered to let me test drive one in the Central Garage parking lot. Turning is anything but simple, even at the required 5 mph or less. It requires at least six steps of scanning in a matter of seconds.
In March, TriMet sent out a training bulletin to all bus drivers, reminding them to properly scan with "advanced eye use skills" and to "rock and roll" in their seats to see around various blind spots on the big vehicles as they turned into an intersection.
"Intersections are usually the most dangerous locations along your route," the bulletin states.
Read the. (.PDF).
Here are the six scans that every driver is required to make when turning into an intersection:
1. Scan before you move
2. Scan before you turn
3. Scan during your turn
4. Scan at the completion of your turn
5. Scan before you enter an intersection
6. Scan your mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds
"You need information before you move, so scan before you take your foot off of the brake," the bulletin reminds drivers. "Turning is a risky maneuver as you are often crossing the path of other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. That’s why turning requires three sets of scans; before, during and after the turn."
Investigators will likely never know if the operator of the bus that hit five pedestrians at Northwest Broadway and Glisan Street performed all of those scans before turning into the crosswalk.
But it's clear that the term "driving" doesn't do the job justice. It's more of an 8-hour wrestling match involving a big wheel, a bigger bus, sharp reflexes and clear cognizance.

You should practise gap selection and compare notes with several more experienced drivers who you trust. Do this until you are confident that you can make consistently safe gap selections when turning right at T intersections when facing a Stop or Give Way sign.
When you feel confident, repeat Steps One-Four for turns at 4-way intersections where you need to judge safe gaps to the front, left and right and are facing a Stop or Give Way sign.

A crash between a passenger car and an eighteen-wheeler often leaves the occupants of the smaller vehicle with devastating injuries.
However, a recent study finds that the installation of advanced safety technology in large trucks can dramatically reduce truck-car collisions.
Too many crashes
In 2015, there were over 400,000 roadway crashes involving large trucks across the U.S. These accidents resulted in more than 4,000 fatalities and 116,000 injuries. In 2019, in the state of Louisiana alone, large truck crashes caused 106 fatalities and 2,740 injuries. A study undertaken by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows how four advanced safety features installed on trucks could significantly curb the incidents of truck-car collisions.
A big rig might collide with a smaller vehicle for various reasons. For example, poor maintenance can allow wear and tear to culminate in defective brakes or blown-out tires. Overloading cargo is a dangerous practice that can cause the truck to be unbalanced and prone to jackknifing or rolling over. Any issue that makes a large truck difficult to control can put nearby vehicles in extreme danger.
The AAA study highlighted four advanced safety technologies that could benefit truck drivers:
- Warning systems: To alert the driver when the truck drifts out of its lane
- Air disc brakes: To provide both performance and maintenance advantages over drum brakes
- Automatic emergency braking system: To detect when the truck is too close to the vehicle in front of it and to apply brakes automatically if necessary
- Video-based safety monitoring system: To monitor driver performance and behavior through use of an onboard camera and other sensors
Motorists can help keep themselves safe by leaving large trucks plenty of room to maneuver, switch lanes and stop. However, the goal of advanced safety technology is to prevent collisions. The AAA study indicates that the video-based safety monitoring system alone has the ability to prevent up to 63,000 crashes annually along with 17,733 injuries and almost 300 fatalities.

Large Truck Accidents
Presented by Scott C. Murray, ESQ.
Many of us have probably had a scary experience or two with 18-wheelers on the highway.Â In 2009, nearly 300,000 large trucks had accidents, accounting for 74,000 injuries and more than 3,000 deaths. There’s no dispute that accidents involving tractor trailers often result in catastrophic and sometimes fatal injuries.
So what are the major issues that we face driving side by side with these tractor trailers out on the roadway? Well -first – the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that driver fatigue is responsible for 30 to 40% of all large truck crashes. In a recent survey, almost 20% of truckers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel at least once in the prior three months. And this is in spite of Federal regulations that limit truck drivers’ on-duty hours.
Another issue is what is called an underride accident. This is when a car rides up underneath the trailer. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, up to half of all accidents between a truck and a car involve an underride situation which dramatically increases the chance of death or severe injury. A European study revealed that 57% of the fatalities and 67% of the serious injuries could be prevented with improved rear underride protection.
Other causes of accidents include mechanical failures because of sloppy maintenance, poor driver training, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and, of course, distracted driving.
Here are four tips on sharing the road and reducing your chances of getting into an accident with an 18 wheeler:
- 1st – Do not ride in a trucker’s blind spot. If you can’t see the truck driver in his mirrors, he probably can’t see you.
- 2nd – Leave plenty of space between you and a truck. Tractor trailers are heavy and difficult to maneuver. They need more time than a passenger car to react to road conditions. A fully-loaded large commercial truck can weigh 80,000 pounds or more and they take as much as three times the distance to stop as the average passenger car. When following behind a truck leave yourself 20 to 25 car lengths. This gives the truck enough time to react if road conditions suddenly change.
- Also – Allow a truck to merge or change lanes.

Every automobile accident has the potential to be catastrophic, but when it comes to big rig accidents, the likelihood of incurring major injuries – let alone fatalities – is far higher. This is owing to the fact that semi trucks are both large and heavy. Driving a car, you may feel as though you have no influence over whether or not you will be involved in a truck collision. This is not always true.
The reality is that by keeping an eye out for these four typical causes of large rig accidents, you can make your driving experience a lot safer. However, if you are involved in a truck accident, do not hesitate to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for assistance.
The Severity of Accidents involving Large Trucks
You may be astonished to discover that there are over 3300 deadly large truck crashes on American highways each year on average in the United States. You may have been shocked to discover that there are an additional 74,000 incidents that result in injury every year. According to the most recent information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this is the case.
They also discovered that three out of every four deaths occurred in automobiles that collided with semi-trucks. Only 15 percent of deaths occurred in large trucks, and 10 percent of fatalities occurred in vehicles that were not occupied by humans in either vehicle. Until 2010, the number of large rig incidents was decreasing, and then the statistics began to trend higher.
Vehicles are not being maintained properly
When a semi truck driver fails to keep their vehicle in perfect working order, the likelihood of an accident increases significantly. In many situations, it is impossible to determine whether a vehicle has not been properly maintained. Keep your distance, however, if you can hear their brakes screaming when they stop, see that their tires are in bad condition, or otherwise sense that a large truck is not properly maintained.
Drivers with little or no experience
Once again, this can be difficult to detect from your car, but if you observe that a motorist appears anxious, makes exaggerated motions, or otherwise appears inexperienced, you should presume that they are at a high risk of being involved in an accident. Keep your distance.
Loaded trucks that are not properly secured
There can be significant consequences if a truck is not properly loaded, whether it is laden with too much goods or just unevenly loaded, which can impair the driver’s ability to manage their vehicle.

Reasons for limiting the legal trailer configurations include both safety concerns and the impracticality of designing and constructing roads that can accommodate the larger wheelbase of these vehicles and the larger minimum turning radii associated with them.
Most states restrict operation of larger tandem trailer setups such as triple units, the “Turnpike Double” (twin 48–53 ft units) or the “Rocky Mountain Double” (a full 48–53 ft unit and a shorter 28 ft unit). In general, these types of setups are restricted to tolled turnpikes, such as I-80 through Ohio and Indiana and specific Western states. Tandem setups are not restricted to certain roads any more than a single setup. The exception are the units listed above. They are also not restricted because of weather or “difficulty” of operation.
The noticeable difference between tractor units in the U.S. and Europe is that almost all European models are “cab over engine” (COE or forward control), while the majority of U.S. trucks are conventional (or normal control). For repairs, the entire cab hinges forward to allow maintenance access. European trucks, whether small rigid or fully articulated, have a sheer face on the front. This allows for shorter trucks with longer trailers (with larger freight capacity) within the legal maximum total length. Furthermore, it offers greater manoeuvrability and better overview for the driver. Conversely, “conventional” cab tractors offer the driver a more comfortable driving environment and better protection in a collision as well as eliminating the need to empty the driver’s personal effects from the tractor whenever the engine requires service. Since the most common trailer used in the U.S. is 53 feet (16 m) in length, the difference in freight capacity between cab-over and conventional cab tractor/trailer combinations is negligible. In Europe the entire length of the vehicle is measured as total length, while in U.S. the cabin of the truck is normally not part of the measurement.
In Europe usually only the rear tractor axle has twin wheels, while larger size single wheels are used for the cargo trailer. The most common combination used in Europe is a semi tractor with two axles and a cargo trailer with three axles, giving five axles and 12 wheels in total. Lesser used (common in Scandinavia) are tractors with three axles, which feature twin wheels either on one or both rear axles.

If you feel like you can’t drive more than a mile or so on the highway without seeing at least one or two big trucks, there’s a good reason for that. Whatever you might call them – big rigs, large trucks, 18-wheelers, semis, or tractor-trailers, there are about 10.5 million currently registered in the United States. That’s a significant number, and one that only continues to grow. Commercial trucks like these are critical to keeping our economy moving, and they’re important. Unfortunately, they can also be dangerous. After all, commercial trucks are much larger than standard passenger vehicles, and as a result, when a crash occurs, it is typically the passenger vehicle (and its occupants) that sustains the most damage.
According to the National Safety Council, in 2018, 4,862 big trucks were involved in fatal crashes – totaling 9% of the total fatal crashes in the United States that year. That same year, 112,000 large trucks were involved in injury-inducing accidents. If you have recently been the victim of an accident involving a large truck, you clearly aren’t alone. You may have arrived at this page injured, overwhelmed, and unsure what steps to take next. If so, the good news is that you do have rights under the law – and you should assert them. At That Clauson Law Firm, we’re here to help.
In thriving and growing cities like Cary, most people use the roadways every day – to drive to work, get their children to school or daycare, travel to the mountains or beach for vacation, or simply run day-to-day errands. The reality of the situation is that it’s almost impossible to avoid encountering big trucks as you go about your day. It is important though, to realize, that these accidents can occur in an instant, and often, through no fault of the driver who is the victim. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:
Although these accidents can happen in an instant as a result of any one of these causes, the consequences they have can be long-lasting, and often far more severe than injuries caused in other types of car accidents, simply because of the size of the truck itself. Injuries may require ongoing treatment for months, or even years, and the truth is that life may never be the same after one of these accidents.

Look for pedestrians and use your turn signal before you exit. If there is no traffic in the roundabout, you may enter without yielding.
Trucks/oversize vehicles and roundabouts
Roundabouts are designed to accommodate vehicles of all sizes, including emergency vehicles, buses, farm equipment and semitrucks with trailers. Oversize vehicles and vehicles with trailers may straddle both lanes while driving through a roundabout.
Many roundabouts are also designed with a truck apron, a raised section of pavement around the central island that acts as an extra lane for large vehicles. The back wheels of the oversize vehicle can ride up on the truck apron so the truck can easily complete the turn, while the raised portion of concrete discourages use by smaller vehicles.
Because large vehicles may need extra room to complete their turn in a roundabout, drivers should remember never to drive next to large vehicles in a roundabout.

Driving next to a large commercial truck can feel a bit intimidating due to its massive size and weight. Because they are so large, big rigs have substantial blind spots, which are also referred to as “no zones.” When other vehicles in the vicinity are driving within those “no zones,” the truck driver is unable to see that vehicle. This can result in devastating truck accidents if the truck driver changes lanes when another vehicle is in the truck’s blind spot. The passenger vehicle can be crushed, forced off the road, or end up hitting another vehicle because the truck driver did not see the other motorist.
Unfortunately, the occupants of the passenger vehicle tend to suffer the most severe injuries.
Truck drivers are trained on how to safely operate an 80,000-pound tractor trailer. However, drivers should also be aware of a truck’s blind spots and avoid driving within these areas. One rule of thumb to keep in mind is that if you cannot see the truck driver’s face in the side-view mirror, it is unlikely that he or she can see you.
Know a Tractor Trailer’s Blind Spots
A tractor trailer’s three main blind spots include the following:
Front: Because truck drivers’ seats are positioned much higher than other vehicles, it can be difficult for them to see another car when it is directly in front of them. This is because the front blind spot is usually approximately 20 feet long. As such, merging into a lane directly in front of a truck can be extremely dangerous. If a passenger car is rear ended by a large truck, it can cause serious injuries and fatalities.
Side: Side blind spots tend to be the most dangerous because they take up the most amount of space. For example, the right side blind spot can be the entire length of the trailer and extend into three lanes. For this reason, drivers should avoid passing trucks on the right. Even though the left side of the truck has a blind spot, trucks drivers expect motorists to pass on the left.
Rear: Even though large trucks are equipped with rearview mirrors, they are essentially of no use, particularly when other motorists are following too closely. Ideally, drivers should stay approximately 25 car lengths, or the length of a football field, behind a tractor trailer. That way, the truck driver will be able to see other drivers on the road.

There is a natural fear among a subset of drivers when they come across the path of a large semi-truck. Some are filled with dread or even experience anxiety by merely driving near a truck, passing a truck, or having a truck operate in an adjacent lane. When asked about these concerns, drivers regularly say that the large size and weight of a semi-truck makes them realize they are at an increased risk for harm when a collision occurs in the Phoenix area and therefore trucks make them nervous.
This belief is understandable, particularly when you realize that national data supports the fact that drivers and passengers in traditional cars face the brunt of the risk of harm during a truck accident.
Many risks can arise when a truck and a car collide, when a truck strikes a fixed object, or when two or more trucks are involved in a collision. Among the most significant of the risks is a rollover, or an event where at least one vehicle involved leaves the ground and rolls onto its side or roof. Rollover crashes are more likely to cause injuries than many other forms of accidents and are more likely to cause a victim to become trapped inside a car, necessitating emergency rescue efforts to free that victim.
In 2012, there were approximately 317,000 accidents involving large trucks in the United States, according to the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration. In these collisions, a rollover incident was the first part of roughly five percent of all fatal accidents and three percent of all fatal accidents, but in addition to those crashes, rollovers happened in many more instances as a secondary, tertiary, or later result from an impact.
Why are rollovers so prevalent when it comes to semi-truck accidents in Arizona? First, semi-trucks are heavier than passenger vehicles which means that they need a greater distance to slow or stop than a typical car. If a semi-truck is forced to brake forcefully and with little warning, that semi may not stop in time to avoid a collision, and some semi drivers may be forced to take evasive actions as a result. Steering away from a roadway hazard or jerking the wheel to one side or another significantly increases the risks of a rollover taking place as the sudden shift in momentum of the truck can lead to a loss of a center of gravity, causing a trailer to roll. Secondly, the tires on semi-trucks often experience greater wear and are used for longer lives than tires on other cars.

A tractor-trailer normally weighs up to 80,000 pounds, about twenty times the weight of the average passenger vehicle. An 18-wheeler will take far longer to stop compared to lighter vehicles, potentially making them much more dangerous. Anderson Injury Lawyers have represented hundreds of people injured by commercial trucks. We know how hazardous they are, especially when they’re unsafely driven by negligent drivers.
A truck hauling an oversize load in Texas could be as heavy as 240,000 pounds, reports Wideloadshipping.com. These massive loads pose serious risks to those of us on the state’s highways and local roads. Stopping these vehicles in time to avoid an accident may be difficult or impossible.
Stopping distances for all vehicles increase as they become heavier, and when road conditions such as snow, ice, or rain make stopping more difficult. A fully loaded, well-maintained tractor-trailer traveling in good road conditions at highway speeds needs a distance of nearly two football fields to stop, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration(FMCSA).
Why Does it Take So Long for an 18-Wheeler to Stop?
The factors involved in stopping time and distances include:
- Driver delay: If the truck driver is distracted, fatigued, impaired, intoxicated, or asleep the driver won’t appreciate the need to stop. The truck continues to move as the driver is in a mental fog.
- Brakes: If they’re worn and poorly maintained, they won’t work as well so it will take longer for the truck to stop
- Tires: Truck tires are not all the same. Some reduce fuel consumption by rolling more easily, but they lack grip if the road is wet, making braking longer. No matter the design, the more they’re worn, the less effective they are at stopping the truck.
- Road surface: The more friction there is between a tire and road, the easier it will be for the truck to stop. If the road is wet or covered in oil spills, gravel, or sand, the braking distance will be longer
- Speed: The faster the truck is traveling, the longer it will take to stop. The slower it’s going, driver alertness and ability to use the brakes are more important.

Tractor Trailer Collisions
A high percentage of traffic crashes and deaths involve large trucks. A large truck is any truck whose vehicle weight is over 10,000 pounds. Because of their size, crashes involving large trucks are more likely to result in serious injury and death than are car crashes. Approximately 10% of all those injured in a large truck crash will die. Large trucks are more likely to be involved in multiple-vehicle crashes than are passenger cars.
If you are injured in a collision with a tractor-trailer, you need the help of an attorney who is familiar with the trucking industry. Grant Morain has the training and experience to know where to look and what questions to ask to find out if there has been a violation of the safety rules. He knows who to call if an expert in trucking safety is needed. If the accident needs to be reconstructed to determine how it happened, he can call on experts that can help make sure the trucking company is held responsible.

Road accidents that implicated heavy-duty trucks have become more frequent in recent years. Most of these trucks aren’t your ordinary pickup trucks but those massive 18-wheelers carrying big loads. The factors are different, but a lot of them are related to the drivers of those trucks. However, inspite of causing these accidents, the truck drivers almost never get hurt because of the tough construction of these 18-wheelers.
A terrible accident of this kind would typically include many small cars, injuries and, very likely, death. Should you want to avoid these types of accidents, you probably need to get better at defensive driving. The unfortunate part is, in truck driving school, they are only shown how to drive fast, and completely disregard the concept of safe driving. Ask your trainer to not skip any lessons, and explore further during your free time.
Many people think that driving a truck is the same as driving a sedan. Even though the driving basics and the traffic rules are related, we are talking about two different vehicles. A small-scale truck involves less attention, the maneuverability is higher and even the accidents involving small cars are less dangerous. Just think about parking a truck, and you will grasp the differences.
A great chunk of incidents are caused by truckers falling asleep at the wheel. Even though the transport companies are obliged to give respectable transport times, (the company must allow 3 days for a 1500 kilometers transport in some countries), the drivers rather stay at their homes for one or two days, and then they would try to catch up in the last day. Aiming to operate a vehicle for twenty four hours without delay is very difficult, even with caffeine and other energizers in your body.
Several major transport companies have installed GPS in the trucks to avoid these severe accidents. By having GPS, it prevents the driver from attempting to cut corners and pushes them to drive in a timely manner. While the original costs are higher, it’s going to pay off in the long term. A very important factor is that the expense of being in an accident will be avoided. In addition, people will consider your company as commendable in making the effort to ensure safety and reliability.
There are several instances when drivers would rather take the truck driver’s license and ignore the standard car test. Even though this doesn’t occur often, it does happen. It’s a good idea that you go for a normal car license then work your way up to a big truck.

The quantity of road accidents related to heavy-duty trucks has gone up over the past few years. These types of trucks aren’t your typical pickup trucks but those enormous 18-wheelers carrying big loads. Though the reasons for these accidents vary, the majority is the fault of the driver of these massive trucks. Surprisingly, even when those drivers are to blame, they usually get away from those kinds of accidents unharmed because of the robust construction of the truck.
A serious accident of this kind might consist of several small cars, injuries, and even the death of some other drivers. If you want to avoid these types of crashes, you probably need to get good at defensive driving. Regrettably, the truck driving schools are trying to train the drivers fast, ignoring the security matters. You should make an effort to study defensive driving on your own.
Lots of people think that driving a semi truck is as easy as driving a regular car. Though both a car and an 18-wheeler do the same things, these vehicles run very differently. A small vehicle involves less attention, the maneuverability is higher and even the accidents involving small cars are less dangerous. It is possible to just imagine the real difference by trying to park a truck versus trying to park a car.
A large number of mishaps involving trucks are caused by tiredness. Transport outfits are required to allow a practical amount of time for travel, like three days for a distance of 1500 kilometers, but many truck drivers would laze around the first two days and try to fit everything in in one. Driving for twenty four hours is not effortless at all possibly even for the most experienced driver.
A few major transport companies have fitted GPS in the trucks to avoid these severe accidents. By having GPS, it inhibits the driver from trying to cut corners and makes them to drive in a timely manner. Even though upfront cost is high, it will be of significant advantage in the long term. To begin with, just think about the costs if one of your trucks is linked to a massive accident. In addition, the general public will view your company as commendable in making the effort to ensure safety and reliability.
Occasionally, the drivers prefer to take their truck driver’s license directly without doing the training for smaller cars. Although this doesn’t occur on a regular basis, it does happen.

Every year, large trucks — 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, flatbeds and other rigs — are involved in crashes that cause fatalities and serious injuries. The United States Department of Transportation and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) report that in 2013, there were 3,964 people killed and an estimated 95,000 people injured in crashes involving large trucks in the United States. In 2013, approximately 1 out of every 10 fatal crashes involved a large truck. Nearly 342,000 large trucks were involved in police-reported traffic crashes in the United States, accounting for 9 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes, and 3 percent of all vehicles involved in injury and property-damage-only crashes. Of the 3,964 truck-related fatalities in 2013: 71 percent were occupants of other vehicles; 17 percent were occupants of large trucks; and 11 percent were non-occupants.
As the above-described NHTSA statistics reveal, large truck crashes can have fatal or devastating consequences for occupants of other motor vehicles and pedestrians. The federal government imposes minimum safety standards for commercial motor carriers to ensure that: (1) commercial motor vehicles are maintained, equipped, loaded, and operated safely; (2) the responsibilities imposed on operators of commercial motor vehicles do not impair their ability to operate the vehicles safely; (3) the physical condition of operators of commercial motor vehicles is adequate to enable them to operate the vehicles safely and the periodic physical examinations required of such operators are performed by medical examiners who have received training in physical and medical examination standards; (4) the operation of commercial motor vehicles does not have a deleterious effect on the physical condition of the operators; and (5) an operator of a commercial motor vehicle is not coerced by a motor carrier, shipper, receiver, or transportation intermediary to operate a commercial motor vehicle in violation of these safety regulations. 49 U.S.C.A. § 31136 These federal motor carrier safety regulations appear at 49 CFR § 390.1 et seq. and address a variety of safety issues including, without limitation:
Federal and state laws and safety regulations impose a duty upon truck companies and other commercial motor carriers to act responsibly, and keep our highways and roads safe for other motorists and pedestrians.

An intersection or an at-grade junction is an junction where two or more roads converge, diverge, meet or cross at the same height, as opposed to an interchange, which uses bridges or tunnels to separate different roads. Major intersections are often delineated by gores and may be classified by road segments, traffic controls and lane design.
One way to classify intersections is by the number of road segments (arms) that are involved.
Another way of classifying intersections is by traffic control technology:
At intersections, turns are usually allowed, but are often regulated to avoid interference with other traffic. Certain turns may be not allowed or may be limited by regulatory signs or signals, particularly those that cross oncoming traffic. Alternative designs often attempt to reduce or eliminate such potential conflicts.
At intersections with large proportions of turning traffic, turn lanes (also known as turn bays) may be provided. For example, in the intersection shown in the diagram,[clarification needed] left turn lanes are present in the right-left street.
Turn lanes allow vehicles to cross oncoming traffic (i.e., a left turn in right-side driving countries, or a right turn in left-side driving countries), or to exit a road without crossing traffic (i.e., a right turn in right-side driving countries, or a left turn in left-side driving countries). Absence of a turn lane does not normally indicate a prohibition of turns in that direction. Instead, traffic control signs are used to prohibit specific turns.
Turn lanes can increase the capacity of an intersection or improve safety. Turn lanes can have a dramatic effect on the safety of a junction. In rural areas, crash frequency can be reduced by up to 48% if left turn lanes are provided on both main-road approaches at stop-controlled intersections. At signalized intersections, crashes can be reduced by 33%. Results are slightly lower in urban areas.
Turn lanes are marked with an arrow bending into the direction of the turn which is to be made from that lane. Multi-headed arrows indicate that vehicle drivers may travel in any one of the directions pointed to by an arrow.
Traffic signals facing vehicles in turn lanes often have arrow-shaped indications. North America uses various indication patterns. Green arrows indicate protected turn phases, when vehicles may turn unhindered by oncoming traffic. Red arrows may be displayed to prohibit turns in that direction.

2. Stay Out of a Big Rig’s Blind Spot
Avoid tailgating or closely driving parallel to the truck’s trailer. These are large blind spots that big rigs have and remaining in these areas is especially dangerous as you may not have sufficient time to react to any erratic stops or changes made by the semi-truck. Instead, keep about three to four car lengths away from the trailer if you are traveling behind one. This gives you enough time to react to any sudden changes in traffic.
When passing them on the interstate, pass by quickly on the left lane. If you are ahead of them on the right lane, slow down slightly, just enough for the operator to get the hint that he or she is allowed to pass you in the left lane quickly.
3. Don’t Buy Into the Drafting Myth
The drafting myth is the common belief that drivers can conserve fuel and improve their own gas mileage by driving very close to the backend of an 18-wheeler by utilizing aerodynamics. In other words – tailgating.
Don’t risk the safety of you and your family by falling for this myth as it requires you to be anxiously close to a traveling big rig. Much, much closer than the three to four car recommendation. Any sudden changes while in transit can spell disaster.
4. Watch Out For Big Rig Right Turns
Big rigs need a lot of space when making right turns. In order to stay on the road, the operator has to overcompensate when making their turn and this may entail occupying multiple lanes. In order to preserve your own safety in this particular circumstance, let the operator have the lane if he or she is indicating that they are going to make a right turn. Don’t pull up to the right of the rig, especially in his or her blind spot, if their blinker light is signaling a right turn.
5. When the Weather is Poor, Stay Indoors
It’s no secret that heavy rain, ice, snow, or high winds can create dangerous driving conditions, but if you are an 18-wheeler operator, it’s just another workday. Driving during these harsh conditions may be a requirement for them in order to get their cargo to its rightful destination but if you don’t need to be out, then stay off the roads.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a large truck accident, trust in the Cardone Law firm to deliver the quality legal care your situation deserves.

More than likely you have had to drive next to a large truck in Florida. Whether you find yourself sitting next to one in traffic on I-75, or you are heading down U.S. 41 behind a semi, you probably don’t feel very comfortable when driving close to a tractor-trailer due to its large size. Not only are semis big and heavy, but they have large blind spots that can put motorists at risk.
Although all vehicles have blind spots, commercial trucks have larger blind spots. Unfortunately, blind spots reduce truck drivers’ visibility, making their maneuvers more risky. Because of the sheer size of trucks alone, both truck drivers and drivers of passenger vehicles need to be careful when sharing the road.
When a trucker doesn’t look very closely in his mirrors, he could change lanes directly into a smaller car. Not only can a truck changing lanes put a motorist in danger—causing the driver to swerve—but it can often lead to a serious crash. When truck drivers make poor choices and poor maneuvers, severe truck wrecks can occur.
Shockingly, truck drivers aren’t the only ones who are to blame in trucking accidents. In fact, drivers of cars often drive in trucks’ blind spots and cut trucks off. Because trucks can present a serious danger to motorists, it is important that all Sarasota drivers learn about semi trucks and how to share the road with them. Some of the things drivers should learn about trucks include:
- No-Zones. Blind spots in large trucks are known as “No-Zones.” Because semis are large and high off the ground, there are areas around the truck that are hard for truck drivers to see. In fact, there are many No-Zones around commercial trucks including those in the front, rear, and side. Drivers need to avoid driving in these blind spots in order to reduce their risks of being in a truck accident.
- Mirrors. If you can see a truck driver in his side mirror, he can probably see you. However, if you cannot see the driver, chances are he probably can’t see you. If this is the case, you should speed up or slow down in order to get out of the truck’s blind spot.
Unfortunately, No-Zones are dangerous and are common areas involved in truck crashes.

The braking distance is also four times longer. Triple the speed from 20 to 60 mph and the impact and braking distance is nine times greater. At 60 mph, your stopping distance is greater than the length of a football field. Increase the speed to 80 mph, and the impact and braking distance are 16 times greater than at 20 mph. High speeds greatly increase the severity of crashes and stopping distances. By slowing down, you can reduce braking distance.
The Effect of Vehicle Weight on Stopping Distance - The heavier the vehicle, the more work the brakes must do to stop it and the more heat they absorb. The brakes, tires, springs and shock absorbers on heavy vehicles are designed to work best when the vehicle is fully loaded. Empty trucks require greater stopping distances because an empty vehicle has less traction.
Sometimes it is hard to know if the road is slippery. Following are signs of slippery roads:
Following are some rules to help prevent right-turn crashes:
Whenever you are driving a vehicle and your attention is not on the road, you are putting yourself, your passengers, other vehicles and pedestrians in danger. Distracted driving can result when performing any activity that may shift your full attention from the driving task. Taking your eyes off the road or hands off the steering wheel presents obvious driving risks. Mental activities that take your mind away from driving are just as dangerous. Your eyes can gaze at objects in the driving scene but fail to see them because your attention is distracted elsewhere.
Activities that can distract your attention include: talking to passengers; adjusting the radio, CD player or climate controls; eating, drinking or smoking; reading maps or other literature; picking up something that fell; reading billboards and other road advertisements; watching other people and vehicles including aggressive drivers; talking on a cellphone or CB radio; using telematic devices (such as navigation systems, pagers, etc.); daydreaming or being occupied with other mental distractions.
Railroad crossings with steep approaches can cause your unit to hang up on the tracks. Never permit traffic conditions to trap you in a position where you have to stop on the tracks. Be sure you can get all the way across the tracks before you start across. It takes a typical tractor-trailer unit at least 14 seconds to clear a single track and more than 15 seconds to clear a double track.
Do not shift gears while crossing railroad tracks.
Select the Right Gear Before Starting Down the Grade.

It is well-known that one of the most dangerous things Americans do every day is get behind the wheel of an automobile. However, unless you happen to live in an area where there is very robust public transport, driving in the US is all but essential. With this being the case, it is very likely that you will end up in a car accident at some point. However, some car accidents are more severe than others. Getting into an accident with a semi truck is almost always more extreme than getting into an accident with another four-wheel passenger vehicle. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, one of the best things you can do to avoid an accident with a semi truck is to be aware of the blind spots.
While all vehicles have blind spots, the blind spots associated with a semi truck are much larger. The biggest blind spot on a semi truck is actually on the right side of the truck: this blind spot nearly eclipses two entire lanes of traffic. This is the main reason why you should never try to pass a semi-truck on the right hand side. Doing so is extremely dangerous because there is a high chance that the driver of the semi truck will not see you.
Another good rule to follow is to assume that if you cannot see the side view mirrors of the semi truck, then the semi truck cannot see you. Experienced drivers of semi trucks will still be aware that there are cars in their blind spots, but you can make their job much easier and your drive much safer by not lingering in these blind spots for long.

It’s a little-known fact that trucks are without doubt the most dangerous vehicles on the road. The high center of gravity and wide turning radius makes it hard for truck drivers to control their vehicles in emergency situations, which can lead to devastating accidents. In this article, we’ll explain the reasons why they are so lethal and discuss how you can protect yourself from them.
What Is A Truck?
A truck is a vehicle that is used to transport goods and materials from one place to another. They vary in size, shape, weight capacity, and what they are designed for. Trucks can weigh up to 80 times more than cars or even 18 tons.
Semi-trucks have two or three trailers that can be attached to them, weighing up to 80,000 pounds. They are what you see being used for shipping across the country. Dump trucks carry gravel and other materials like dirt onto construction sites or other destinations. Tractor-trailers transport goods from one location to another (which are stored in a special area at the back). Pickup trucks can be used for many different reasons including carrying cargo, hauling livestock, or transporting goods to and from the local market. Flatbeds are what mechanics use when they need to transport a car that is too large for their personal vehicles.
Why Are They So Dangerous?
Truck accidents account for nearly 15% of fatalities each year according to federal statistics, which should cause all drivers to be concerned. Here are some of the key reasons why they are so lethal:
This makes it top heavy and therefore easy to topple over if it’s not properly balanced out throughout the entire truck bed. El Paso is a city located in the far western part of Texas in the United States of America. It’s possible to contact an improperly loaded truck accident lawyer in El Paso by submitting an online form, using live chat, or making a phone call. This can connect accident victims to professionals who can consult with reconstructionists and other experts in order to pursue full and fair compensation.
They take a long time to stop; their brakes require longer braking distances than most other vehicles. They can take up a lot of room on the roadway. Due to their size, they might not be able to go around corners as quickly or at all. This can cause problems when trying to change lanes and turn onto side roads etc., especially if there are cars present that have been stopped by an unexpected red traffic light or stop sign.

A study of truck driver fatalities was conducted by The National Transportation Safety Board and The National Institute on Drug Abuse in eight states and one or more drugs were detected in 67% of these fatally injured drivers and 33% of these drivers had detectable blood concentrations of psychoactive drugs or alcohol.
- Driver error. Heavy Truck drivers are responsible for the safe operation of their vehicle. When semi-trucks travel at rates that exceed the speed limit, they are speeding and increasing the likelihood of a jackknife or rollover.
- “Under-rides” refer to passenger vehicles that slide under another vehicle, with the majority of these incidences happening between Heavy Trucks and passenger cars.
- Blind spots exist in the front, back and sides of a Heavy Truck. When vehicles are in these blind spots, the Heavy Truck may make a wide right turn into the passenger car.
- “Squeeze plays” involve heavy Trucks making wide right turns. When a car is caught between a Heavy Truck and a curb – the car caught in a “squeeze” that can cause a serious accident and injuries.
- “Off-track” occurs w hen a Heavy Truck turns at high speed and swings into a neighboring lane without warning.
- Following too closely. Unlike cars, Heavy Trucks require up to 40% more stopping space. Following too closely results in inadequate stopping distance between Heavy Trucks which then rear-end vehicles in front. It is not difficult to imagine the devastating results that occur when a car, van or SUV is hit from behind with over 10,000 lbs. of moving metal.
- Substandard inspection. There are approximately 2 million plus roadside inspections of Heavy Trucks and about 23.2% of these Heavy Trucks were found to have serious violations, leading to catastrophic accidents and injuries on our country’s roads and highways.
- Longer Combination Vehicles (LCVs) vehicles are tractor-trailer Heavy Truck combinations with two or more truck trailers that weigh more than 80,000 pounds. These Heavy Trucks are at high risk of jack-knife rollover, sway, and loss of control. Longer lengths, heights, and weights make these Heavy Trucks perform and handle differently than other types of tractor semi-trailers or twin trailers. The LCVs are more dangerous due to their tendency to sway and leave the lane they are traveling in, as well as requiring increased passing distance.
- Hazardous Materials (hazmat).

This refers to a lane change or other sudden movement that may need to be taken when traveling alongside a large commercial truck.
One of the greatest disadvantages of driving next to 18 wheeler trucks is the many variances that exist between this type of vehicle and a standard automobile. The following facts shed a bit of light on the most glaring differences between the two types of vehicles:
- An average car in the U.S. weighs 5,000 pounds
- An average 18 wheeler in the U.S., if within load limits, weighs 80,000
- An 18 wheeler engine is 6 times the size of a car engine, regarding both weight and size
- Accidents involving 18 wheeler trucks result in a traffic fatality 9 percent of the time
- It takes an 18 wheeler truck 40 percent more time to stop than that of a standard automobile
When put in this perspective, it is clear why 18 wheeler trucks frighten many drivers on the roads and highways in Connecticut. While nothing can be done to change the variation in size, weight, and stoppage time between a tractor-trailer vehicle and a standard automobile, understanding the vast differences helps drivers to relate to just how dangerous these trucks may become. If you or a loved one has suffered injury from 18 wheeler trucks, please contact our personal injury law firm today for a no-obligation, free consultation.
Laws Regarding 18 Wheeler Vehicles
In response to the growing number of truck accidents in the United States, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established which oversees and outlines the rules and regulations for all commercial trucks in the country. Regulating this trucking industry is vital, as both safety measures and intrastate travel require strict guidelines. In compliance with the FMCSA standards, all truckers are given a set of principles to follow which hopefully increases safety and reduces the frequency of motor vehicle collisions.
When a large commercial vehicle prepares to embark on a long travel, there are quite a few potential hazards that must be addressed, especially those in regard to the standards outlined by the FMSCA. From background checks to a number of different tests, truckers are vetted rather thoroughly prior to operating a commercial vehicle.

Designing the truck around taller tires results in a tall vehicle package and a higher center of gravity (with more body roll and load transfer), making the tires work harder, especially under braking and cornering situations and can make the vehicle less stable.

When you’re driving in a regular-sized vehicle, it’s normal to feel some concern while driving alongside a commercial truck. It makes sense—large trucks are up to 30 times bigger than passenger vehicles, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This feeling also makes sense because the fatalities of truck accidents are occupants of passenger vehicles 67 percent of the time, compared to truck drivers who are the victims 16 percent of the time.
If you’ve been involved in a collision with a large truck that wasn’t your fault, then you could use the help of a lawyer. A truck accident attorney from Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC can provide you with the legal representation you need after a crash in Jackson.
Dangers of Driving Beside a Large Truck
The size difference is one of the main dangers of driving alongside a large truck on the road, but there are other dangers to consider so that you can keep yourself and your passengers safe. If you need to pass a truck, it’s important that you do so as quickly and as safely as possible. When you are left to linger beside the trailer, that’s where the danger is.
If you’re beside a truck, it’s likely that you’re in one of their blind spots. This means that the driver can’t see you in the lane next to them, so if they need to change lanes for any reason, they could drive right into you. Additionally, if you need to change lanes for any reason, you could crash into the trailer, or even get into an underride accident where you are stuck under the trailer.
Even if the truck doesn’t need to change lanes, another danger you could face while driving alongside the rig is a tire blowout. Since tractor trailers have so many tires, and they’re typically hauling thousands of pounds of goods, they are more susceptible to tire blowouts. These might not affect the truck, but if you’re driving alongside it in a regular sized vehicle, it could cause an accident for you.
Let’s take a look at how you can avoid accidents with trucks as the driver of a regular sized vehicle.
Tips for Driving Near Trucks
While it can be intimidating and dangerous to share the road with 18 wheelers, there are some ways you can stay safe.

In a jackknife, the cab of the truck swings around against its own trailer, resulting in a total loss of truck control. Speed contributes to jackknifing when the momentum built up by the trailer overwhelms the truck-tractor, essentially pushing it askew from behind. Jackknifes can also occur when a truck’s brakes are not properly balanced and apply uneven braking pressure at high speed.
Finally, excessive speed can also lead to runaway accidents, such as when a truck descends a long hill and picks up too much momentum for the driver to keep it under control. Just about any kind of collision or catastrophe can result from a runaway accident, from pileups to rollovers to run-off-road accidents.
Truck Driver Inattention
Driving a truck requires special skill. Texas requires drivers of commercial vehicles to carry a Commercial Driver License (CDL) rated for the type of vehicle the driver operates. Drivers have to clear many hurdles to obtain a CDL, including written and on-road testing and certifications of their abilities to drive safely.
One thing all CDL holders know is that driving a commercial truck requires constant situational awareness. Drivers must pay close attention to the speed and position of their vehicle, as well as to all of the other vehicles with which the truck shares the road. A moment’s inattention can result in disaster. Inattention can result from a variety of contributing factors, including using a phone or GPS, having a conversation, or impairment from fatigue, drug, or alcohol use (see below).
Blind Spot Inattention Is a Particular Danger
Keeping tabs on other vehicles is no easy feat. Trucks have large blind spots on all four sides. For a typical tractor-trailer, those blind spots extend:
- 20 feet in front of the cab;
- 30 feet behind the trailer;
- One lane-width on the driver’s side; and
- Two lane-widths on the passenger side.
Drivers use mirrors and, increasingly, side and rear cameras to help them “clear” their blind spots. But those tools are not fool-proof. To use them effectively, drivers need to keep constant track of other vehicles.

Dangers of Sharing the Road with Large Trucks
Sharing the road with large trucks is simply something everyone must face. These oversized vehicles are common sites on the road, especially if you are traveling on the highway. It is important to understand the particular dangers posed by large trucks. Knowing and understanding how these vehicles move and operate will help you be mindful of how to stay safe when you find yourself sharing the road with them.
Be Careful – Follow These Safety Tips for Sharing the Road with Large Trucks
It is best to start off with what is the most obviously unique trait about large trucks. They are, in fact, sizeable. They are big and they are heavy. This creates several dangers for those who are sharing the road with them. For instance, because large trucks weigh so much, it takes them much longer to brake than other vehicles. Some 18-wheelers can weigh more than 10,000 pounds. This means that the truck will require much more room to stop than another vehicle. In fact, it can easily take it twice as long to come to a full stop. Because of this, you should always give trucks as much space as possible.
Avoid Making Them Brake Suddenly
Avoid any situation where the truck driver may be forced to suddenly brake. While it may be tempting to speed up and get in front of a truck that is looking to move into your lane, do not do it. Not only could this lead to the driver not having enough time to adequately brake, but it could also create a situation where the driver suddenly swerves and jackknifes. These types of accidents can have catastrophic consequences for others on the road. The size and weight of large trucks mean devastation for other vehicles in the event of a collision.
Stay Out of Their Blind Spots
Another big danger of sharing the road with large trucks is the fact that they have huge blind spots. You may hear these blind spots referred to as “no zones” and that is because you should not linger in these areas and avoid entering into them as much as possible. The sides, front, and rear of large trucks are all no zones. When you drive in these areas, it is likely that your car disappears from the view of the truck driver. The general rule of thumb is that if you cannot see the face of the driver in the truck’s side mirror, then the driver cannot see you.

Road trains are part of Aussie life and all drivers have to share the road with them at one point or another. Road trains are the life blood of many industries and the drivers sacrifice a lot of time away from their families. When we know how to navigate around road trains, we make the journey for both ourselves and the truckies much safer and enjoyable.
Type of trucks on the road
Trucks on the road can be anything from a rigid truck, semi-trailers, road trains which can be double, triple or quad, buses, grain and livestock transporters, tanker trucks, cement trucks and oversized vehicles.
How do you drive safely in the vicinity of one of these heavy beasts?
Stay out of their blind spots. Where are the blind spots of heavy vehicles?
Immediately in front of the vehicle, beside the truck driver’s door, on the passenger side of the truck, this runs for the length of the truck and extends out three lanes, and directly behind a truck.
I have seen stickers on the back of trucks declaring that if you cannot see their mirror they cannot see you. It is there for a reason – they really cannot see you. It is very important that you are visible.
Following distances are very important when driving in front of road trains
Never before has following distances been so important as they are when you are driving behind a truck. If you are directly behind a heavy vehicle you cannot see ahead. You have to allow enough time and distance to stop safely.
Stopping distances are different for road trains than for other vehicles
A truck takes approximately 83 metres to stop at 60km/h whilst a car will take only 73meters. At 100km/h a truck will take about 185 meters to stop compared to a car’s 157 metres.
Can you see why it is not a good idea to swerve in front of a truck and suddenly slam on your brakes. You are making it virtually impossible for them to stop safely and not harm you.
Overtaking road trains
Heavy vehicles marked with a warning, DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE, have the right to take up more than one lane to turn at corners, intersections and roundabouts. When a heavy vehicle is turning, rather keep behind them.
When you want to overtake a heavy vehicle on a highway, wait for the overtaking lanes whenever possible.

When it comes to truck driving, safety is paramount. The sheer size of the vehicles alone makes them a hazard on the road, and they are far more likely to cause accidents and injuries than cars, motorbikes, and cycles are. If you’re a truck driver, you need to make sure you’re doing all you can, all the time, to keep yourself and your fellow road users safe and to ensure you don’t let accidents strip you of your trucking authority.
Be aware of YOUR speed limits
More often than not, speed limit signs will dictate one maximum speed limit for smaller vehicles, and another one for larger ones. Your truck will fall under the larger-vehicle limit, which will be slower than the one imposed on cars, and it is of the utmost importance that you are aware of this. Do not confuse the limits, as doing so will see you go faster than you should be going with your type of vehicle, and will, therefore, make you more of a danger.
You should be particularly aware of your speed when you come to turns in the road. Trucks are far more likely to lose control of themselves as they curve than cars are, and their drivers MUST slow down when their road begins to deviate.
Pay attention to your space cushion
Your space cushion is the room that immediately surrounds your truck on all of its sides, and other vehicles shouldn’t be encroaching upon it. Of course, you cannot account for other drivers, and anybody could get too close to you at any time. What you can account for, however, is your own driving skills, and making sure your truck never gets too close to anything else that it shares the road with.
Importantly, this means maintaining a safe distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. As your truck will have more weight, size, and power than all of the cars that it follows, you going into the back of one can and will cause serious damage. For this reason, you should stay two vehicle lengths behind cars when the traffic is free-flowing, allowing you a safe stop time should the course you are taking dictate you to halt.
Make sure your truck can be seen
As mentioned, the size of trucks makes them one of the biggest dangers on the road, and it is for this reason why safety procedures must be in place to ensure other road users know when your truck is approaching them.

Articulated trucks are famously inefficient and can be dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. The European Commission recently announced plans to change the rules governing the size of trucks to make them safer, more efficient, and more spacious. MAN‘s new Concept S meets these qualifications with a slim front, flared wheel arches and curved cab lines, which break the traditional “shoebox” truck design. It also prevents cyclists from being dragged under the wheels in the event of an accident.
The new streamlined design has a large range of benefits. Firstly, it gives a large truck the air resistance of a car, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 25%. The European Commission wants to fast-track this more aerodynamic, curvaceous design, which also improves driver visibility and could save hundreds of lives across the EU each year.
Because of UK and EU rules, trucks are generally no more than 16.5m long and 44 tonnes in weight. However, the new rules would allow for longer and more flexible designs.
Speaking to the BBC, Stephan Kopp, MAN’s senior manager for aerodynamic development, said it could be a revolution for the freight industry. “For several years now, we are trying to convince the European Union to allow us more freedom. If we are allowed to build longer trucks, then we can realise the potential in aerodynamics and safety.”
Via BBC News

By Chris McCahill
Side impact- and turn-related crash rates are lowest at intersections where average lane widths are between 10 and 10.5 feet, according to a study presented at the Canadian Institute of Transportation’s annual meeting last month. This challenges the long-held, but often disputed, assumption that wider lanes are safer.
The study looked at vehicle-to-vehicle crashes at 70 signalized intersections in Toronto and 190 in Tokyo over periods of four to five years. Crash rates were highest where average lane widths at the approaches were narrower than 10 feet or wider than 10.5 feet. Intersection approaches with 10-foot lanes also carried the highest traffic volumes. Bicycle and pedestrian volumes generally increased as lanes became narrower. There was no significant difference in truck volumes.
Narrower lane widths (10 to 11 feet) are sanctioned in national policies outlined by AASHTO, particularly for urban areas, but the official standards in many states prohibit them. According to a 2010 study published in the ITE Journal, six states require a minimum of 12-foot lanes and another 24 states require 11-foot lanes.
The author of this most recent study notes that lane width guidelines, in particular, were established well before we had reliable crash and safety data. His work and other work cited in his paper show that the science behind many of those early assumptions is shaky. Fortunately, new research like this can help support a shift toward “substantive safety,” based on empirical evidence, rather than “nominal safety,” which assumes that design guidelines ensure safe outcomes—a topic that is covered in depth in ITE’s recent publication, Integration of Safety in the Project Development Process and Beyond: A Context Sensitive Approach.
Chris McCahill is a Senior Associate at SSTI.
By Chris McCahill

Driving alongside an 18-wheeler big rig or semi truck can be scary. Not only is the sheer size of a large truck intimidating, but at some point while sharing the road with one, we inevitably stop and think about just how devastating an accident with such a monstrous vehicle would be. Truck accidents can cause a horrendous amount of destruction due to how much weight and force they carry.
Luckily, there are a few things any driver can do to stay safe while sharing the road with large trucks. Here are some tips:
- Always be especially alert when driving near a large trailer truck or big rig. Look out for any sudden swerves or movements.
- Make sure you’re always visible to the driver of the truck. Trucks have massive blind spots and a higher cab, so it can be difficult for truck drivers to see passenger cars. Avoid driving in a truck’s blind spots and make yourself visible directly from the driver’s cab if possible. If you can see the driver in their mirror, they should be able to see you as well.
- Turn your headlights on in conditions where the light is low to help truck drivers see your better.
- Keep a safer difference than you normally would when following or driving alongside a large truck. Keep an extra lane between the truck and your vehicle if possible.
- Give trucks as much room as possible when you notice they’re making a turn. The driver will need to make a wide turn and it may be wider than you expect. While waiting your turn at an intersection, for example, you may want to give the truck the entire intersection to make their turn before moving forward.
- Give large trucks more space to stop. The larger the vehicle, the more time it takes for the driver to stop. Overcompensate if you have to. A large truck with full cargo can take as much as 300 yards to come to a complete stop from 60mph.
- When driving around a large truck, plan your moves well ahead of time and give truck drivers more time to respond to your actions.
- Use your turn signals earlier and merge/change lanes ahead of time. If you’re afraid of being too close to the truck and need to stop, alert the driver ahead of time with a quick “tap” on your brakes.
- When passing a large truck, try and pass on the right side. The right side has fewer blind spots than the left.

- When an over-sized load signals to get over, there’s a good reason. Let them in.
- Don’t follow too closely; the increased width makes it hard to see what’s behind.
- Communicate on CB if possible to communicate intent.
- Look for the red flags on the freight; this marks the widest point on the load.
- Don’t try to squeeze beside them in a truck stop parking space. They may need 2 spots and in many states they’re forbidden to use rest areas per the regulations.
- When it’s safe to pass, do so quickly in order to minimize the time you’re in a high risk zone with minimal horizontal clearance.

Car accidents that take place in intersections are among the most common and dangerous types. Unfortunately, many of these wrecks could likely be avoided if drivers exhibited just a little more caution. Here are some of the telltale signs that you are on your way to being in a wreck at an intersection.
1: Crowded conditions.
Whenever you approach an intersection and you notice that it is very crowded with drivers, be extra careful. These are situations where a driver making a foolish left turn or pulling out in front of someone into a lane could cause a disaster. Don’t be afraid to slow down a bit and assess the situation before you proceed into the intersection.
2: Rush hour.
There are some people out there who simply cannot bear the thought of having to wait for a traffic light to change. To avoid doing so, they will barrel through a yellow light like nobody’s business. If you happen to be making a left on the yellow, make certain that nobody is coming. Check twice if you have to. It may actually save your life.
People who tailgate other vehicles are among the most significant threats on the road. This is, in fact, one of the most negligent things that any driver can do. If you have somebody tailgating you, be wary of lights that are about to turn yellow. You can almost bet money on the fact that the driver behind you isn’t paying attention to the lights and that they’re probably paying attention to your car and venting frustration that you’re not driving fast enough for their liking.
4: Wide turns.
In the summer, be particularly wary of people in large vehicles who probably are not professional drivers. For example, recreational vehicles towing boats, large vehicles towing campers and other larger, noncommercial vehicles are all significant threats to everyone else on the road. Be wary of drivers who don’t understand how wide they have to turn at an intersection to clear the curb and make sure you stay away from their right side. They very well may sideswipe you otherwise.

Remind all the drivers among your family and friends to always look for people doing lane-changes without signalling, particularly at intersections when they realize they’re heading the wrong way! See all five photo’s, below.
These photographs, taken at Albany, NY, just yesterday (and as always, from the passenger seat), show two truck drivers who were either distracted or simply not concentrating, then they eventually wake up to the fact that they are heading the wrong way.
It could, of course be any drivers, by no means just truck drivers, but it cannot be ignored than reckless maneuvers such as these are even more dangerous when large vehicles are involved.
Follow events by looking at each photo in turn. And remember to be aware that somebody might do this right in front of you, with no warning at all. Keep your distance!
Interestingly, some text on the back of the orange truck (which was not displaying any license plate at all) read “Keep Back 100 Feet.” But any driver who wants to do everything possible to stay safe should constantly look out, ahead and behind, for anyone who is driving badly, then do their best to keep well clear of them.
Please feel free to forward the URL or a link to this page to your family and friends.

However, a truck and trailer or a tractor and semitrailer combination hauling pulpwood or unprocessed logs may be operated with a maximum width of not to exceed 108 inches in accordance with a special permit issued under section 725.
(5) The total outside body width of a bus, a trailer coach, a trailer, a semitrailer, a truck camper, or a motor home shall not exceed 102 inches. However, an appurtenance of a trailer coach, a truck camper, or a motor home that extends not more than 6 inches beyond the total outside body width is not a violation of this section.
(6) A vehicle shall not extend beyond the center line of a state trunk line highway except when authorized by law. Except as provided in subsection (2), if the width of the vehicle makes it impossible to stay away from the center line, a permit shall be obtained under section 725.
(7) The director of the state transportation department, a county road commission, or a local authority may designate a highway under the agency's jurisdiction as a highway on which a person may operate a vehicle or vehicle combination that is not more than 102 inches in width, including load, the operation of which would otherwise be prohibited by this section. The agency making the designation may require that the owner or lessee of the vehicle or of each vehicle in the vehicle combination secure a permit before operating the vehicle or vehicle combination. This subsection does not restrict the issuance of a special permit under section 725 for the operation of a vehicle or vehicle combination. This subsection does not permit the operation of a vehicle or vehicle combination described in section 722a carrying a load described in that section if the operation would otherwise result in a violation of that section.
(8) The director of the state transportation department, a county road commission, or a local authority may issue a special permit under section 725 to a person operating a vehicle or vehicle combination if all of the following are met:
(a) The vehicle or vehicle combination, including load, is not more than 106 inches in width.
(b) The vehicle or vehicle combination is used solely to move new motor vehicles or parts or components of new motor vehicles between facilities that meet all of the following:
(i) New motor vehicles or parts or components of new motor vehicles are manufactured or assembled in the facilities.
(ii) The facilities are located within 10 miles of each other.

Because large trucks have the capability for causing serious injuries to drivers and passengers, it is in your best interest to avoid traveling in their blind spots and to let others know the same. You can share this article with those you know on Facebook by selecting the like button to the left of the screen.

Watch Your Speed
Staying in control of your speed is essential, but in many cases that can only be done if you keep an eye on the signs. Speed limits change as you move from rural to urban areas, and they also change from state to state. Don’t pass by a speed limit sign without noting the number and adjusting your speed accordingly. Although driving the limit is essential to truck driving safety, there are a lot of times when you’ll need to go even slower such as:
- when going around curves
- when entering an interstate
- in work zones
Weather is another issue that affects how fast you can safely drive in a semi, and we’ll cover that next.
Truck Driving Safety Relies on Being Weather Aware
Weather impacts truck driving safety in many ways such as how your truck handles on the road and how quickly you can stop. In fact, weather conditions contribute to nearly 25 percent of truck accidents when speeding is involved. Check in on weather websites when planning your trip, but also be flexible enough to respond properly when you’re hit with unexpected conditions. Wet roads require you reduce your speed by one-third and you’ll need to cut it by one-half on icy, snowy roads.
Expected or not, weather can affect visibility, too. When rain, snow, and even fog interfere with your view of the road, pull off entirely, not just to the shoulder. That puts you and other drivers at risk. They may think you’re on the road and still moving and could mistakenly run into the back of your truck.
Give Yourself a Cushion
They call ‘em the big rigs for a reason. Your truck’s height and weight dwarf most other vehicles on the road. Plus, the mammoth size affects how much time and space you need to stop. For those reasons, you should maintain a buffer zone around your truck—a cushion of space that keeps you and other drivers safe. You need space above, below, in front, in back, and to both sides of your truck to stay clear of overpasses and tunnels, uneven or sloped roads, and objects in front, in back, and to the sides of you including other vehicles, toll booths, bridges, etc. Furthermore, trucks need a wide berth when making turns and backing up. Having a cushion helps ensure you won’t hit anything when executing those moves.
What’s more, if a semi needs to stop suddenly, it can’t.

If you're in the intersection and the light goes yellow know that you own the intersection - do not proceed until you are absolutely sure that that oncoming traffic has come to a stop. And this is one of the reasons for new drivers why left-hand turns are one of the highest risk maneuvers because it results in a crash that is a T-bone crash. And if there's passengers in the vehicle it is often fatal for them.
It can to be very dangerous for the driver as well because the side of the vehicle where the doors are and the passenger compartment of the vehicle is, there isn't any protection there. So know that when you're making a left-hand turn and this is what we can learn from this video is make sure that that oncoming traffic is coming to a stop and then that you're not getting pressured by the vehicles behind you to go and misinterpret the gap and there is sufficient gap for you to go. So know that on a left-hand turn as well, when you're sitting there waiting make sure that your steer tires are straight because if you get rear-ended accidentally you'll get driven into oncoming traffic. Especially if you're on highways as in this video clip here with the crash analysis where the speeds are a bit higher.
And the higher the speeds the more dangerous the crash is going to be and the more susceptible you're going to be to being killed in that car crash.
Question for my smart drivers:
Leave a comment down in the comment section there, all that helps out the new drivers who are working towards becoming better drivers and staying crash free. If you like what you see here share, subscribe, leave a comment down in the comment section there. As well, hit that thumbs up button.
Check out all the videos on the channel here if you're working towards a license or starting a career as a truck or bus driver. Lots of good information here and head over to the Smart Drive Test website. Great information over there. As well, online courses that you can purchase. All of the courses are guaranteed pass your road test first time or 60-day money-back guarantee.
enter youtube30 for 30% off course in coupon box

Semi-trucks can be down right scary for motorists in smaller vehicles. Seeing one creeping into your lane on the highway is enough to cause you to lay into a full on honk. Watching one make a right turn onto the street where you’re in the left lane waiting to turn might have you thinking you should back up a touch as you chant “Don’t hit me. Don’t hit me.”
But, the drivers deserve credit for the amount of control they have over the massive rigs and trailers. Take this semi driver for example. In the video below, he starts to turn left, but since he appears to be going a tad too fast, he begins to skid. Amazingly, he corrects the skid making it look like it was intentional and he was just pretending to be 007 in an Aston Martin.
Watch the footage taken by frightened passengers behind him on a rainy day (Warning: Some strong language):
We can’t confirm when the video was officially taken. The timestamp in the clip states 2025, but those timestamps are wrong or altered. We do know it was uploaded to YouTube Friday by a user named rousnek located in Germany. This is the only video the user has uploaded to the video-sharing site.
- Shocking Footage Catches Rouge Semi-Truck Slamming Into Gas Pump
- Drivers Narrowly Escape Death After Truck Towing Semi Slides Off Icy Norway Cliff

To the Editor:
I just visited the site of newly constructed Rowan Boulevard at U.S. Route 322 in Glassboro. While this intersection looks to be near completion, its configuration looks to be a controversy in the making.
The "roundabout" that replaces the elbow turn just east of the Rowan University campus is so narrow curb-to-curb that large and medium size trucks will need to be forever banned from using that section of Route 322 as it currently exists. This would mean that trucks going east on Route 322 would be forced to detour through a school zone on Heston Road on their way to Route 47, where they would turn right to rejoin Route 322 eventually. Even cars will need to be extremely careful negotiating the tight circle.
Looking at the new design, it makes you wonder how such a main artery could be so narrowly conceived in the planning stages. Unless there is something that doesn't meet the eye, it appears the template is set. If it is, there are questions on the horizon.

Truck accidents happen due to the negligence of truck drivers and motorists in smaller passenger vehicles alike. If we want to see a day when there are no truck accidents across the country, then it is going to take everyone to make that happen. You can help do your part by knowing how to safely share the road with a commercial truck, big rig, semi-truck, or whatever else you might call them.
Five easy-to-remember tips to share the road with commercial trucks are:
- Stay out of blind spots: A commercial truck has much larger blind spots than compared to most other vehicles on the road. You need to do your best to stay out of them. There is a blind spot directly behind and another in front of the truck, each capable of hiding about one or one-and-a-half cars. To the left, about two lanes are obscured in a blind spot that is cone-shaped and extending away from the left-side mirror. On the right is the largest blind spot, which covers two to four lanes to the right and behind.
- Pass on the left: Because the right side of a commercial truck has the largest blind spot, you should always try to pass on the left when it is an option. Passing on the left will allow you to move through a smaller blind spot and, therefore, spend less time “invisible” to the trucker. If you can, make eye contact with the trucker in their left-side mirror as you pass to confirm that they know you are there. Judge your distances correctly, accelerate slightly if you can safely, and complete the pass without delay.
- Increase your following distance: Never tailgate a big rig. Not only are you hiding in a blind spot when tailgating, but you will also be blinding yourself to the road ahead. When you can’t see what is happening around and in front of you, the chances of getting caught in an accident will increase. Do yourself, the trucker, and everyone else on the road a favor and increase your following distance behind a commercial truck to roughly three car lengths or five seconds, whichever is greater.
- Watch for wide turns: Big rigs take big turns, especially right-hand turns at 90-degree intersections. You should never stay next to the side of a commercial truck as it approaches an intersection or while it is using its turn signal. Even if you are in the next lane over, the trailer could swing wide and collide with your car.

THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF SHARING COLORADO ROADS WITH LARGE TRUCKS
On behalf of Paul Wilkinson at The Paul Wilkinson Law Firm, LLC
Trucking accidents are all too common in Colorado and may result in serious injuries, but there are things that drivers can do to safely share the roads.
Each day, motorists in Colorado and across the U.S. share the streets and highways with commercial vehicles. Unfortunately, collisions involving these large trucks and smaller, passenger automobiles are all too common and often result in serious injuries or death for those involved. In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that of the more than 370,000 motor vehicle accidents that occurred in 2012 involved at least one commercial vehicle. While not all such wrecks can be prevented, there are some things that drivers can do to safely share the roads with large trucks.
Do allow large trucks ample room to stop
Generally, large commercial vehicles require more room to stop than cars, trucks and SUVs. The Colorado Driver Handbook points out that loaded trucks may need a minimum of 290 feet to stop when they are traveling at 55 mph. It is important that drivers keep this in mind to help them avoid some truck accidents. Motorists should refrain from suddenly stopping when driving in front of large trucks as much as possible.
Do not drive in the no zones
Tractor trailers have blind spots in the front, on both sides and in the rear. When they are in these areas, or so-called no zones, people’s vehicles may disappear or be too close. This may restrict the ability of truckers to safely maneuver their vehicles, which may result in trucking collisions. Therefore, it is recommended that drivers refrain from traveling in large trucks’ blind spots for extended periods of time.
Do use caution when passing
Although their size is plainly visible, many people underestimate the time it takes to pass large trucks. Before attempting to pass these vehicles, it is important for people to make certain they have enough time and open road in front of them. This may help prevent situations in which they have to cut back in front of a tractor trailer and stop or slow suddenly.
Do not cut in between trucks and curbs
Operating tractor trailers is different than driving smaller automobiles. Sometimes, truckers may have to move to the left in order to make a right-hand turn or they may leave extra space between their vehicles and the curb in order to make safe turns.

Oversized Load Truck Accident Lawyers in Kentucky
Trucks with oversized loads pose a threat to others on the road because of their size and how difficult they are to drive safely. Many things can go wrong and cause an accident. It’s best to stay away from these vehicles as best you can.
What is an Oversized Load?
An oversized load could be steel beams used on a bridge, wind turbines, drilling rig parts, or manufactured housing.
There are oversized and overweight loads. They go beyond the dimensions accepted by a state, while an overweight load is heavier than the standard weight. Kentucky’s accepted truck weight and sizes can be found here. Municipalities can have restrictions on local roads. The federal government also imposes rules on hauling oversized loads.
Interstate and other major highways generally have 12-foot-wide travel lanes. The maximum legal vehicle width is 8.5 feet in every state. If a load is bigger than that, it’s an oversized load. A load that’s extra long or high is also oversized.
Special permits are required to move this cargo legally, and specific safety procedures must be followed. There may be escort vehicles, special lighting, and flags to make the trip safer for all involved.
Why is Hauling an Oversized Load Dangerous?
Oversized loads are hazardous to other road traffic and structures along the route, such as bridges and overpasses. Oversized loads often impede traffic and block lanes. There may be secondary accidents caused when traffic backs up or drivers try to pass trucks carrying oversized loads.
When hauling an excessively wide, long, tall, or heavy load, there are risks that drivers must consider to avoid an accident, according to Equipment and Contracting. This includes:
- The load’s weight may deflate tires, causing a blowout and loss of control
- The truck is more likely to roll over, especially at higher speeds and making turns
- The load’s weight and extreme dimensions mean it has a momentum all its own, which may be difficult for the truck and driver to control.

So either pass the truck very fast, or lay back with enough room to avoid the truck if it has a blowout, then pass it quickly once the car in front of you moves.
If you’re too lazy to search on your own, here’s a video of a truck getting a blowout, losing control, and killing the driver [Editor’s Note: The video referenced has been removed from YouTube]. If you’re on the side of the truck when this happens, you’re going to get a cross on the side of the road right next to theirs. Take a look at the interstate and take note of the rubber pieces you see in the lanes and on the shoulders. They’re referred to as gators, because broken tire pieces are long and skinny like a gator, and they weigh an awful lot–sometimes as much as an alligator. Take note of the skid marks on the highways, the areas where you know a wreck took place. Someone got hurt where you see that. And it can happen to you.
Most truckers are great drivers. They care about doing their jobs safely because if they don’t, people will die, namely them. And they are making a meager living doing so. A wreck can ruin their career. There are the random few who screw it up for the rest and give a bad name. But the majority are very careful. I just hope you take note of the roads when you’re on them in the future. I’m convinced some folks just don’t know any better because nobody taught them. Pass this sort of thing along to your friends. It’s just common sense.
[Edit] Trucks pass slowly because most are speed-governed to below the speed limit. If the truck is a nationally known name (Swift, Wal Mart, Yellow Freight, etc), it’s on GPS, is tracked by the 1/10th of a mile by someone at a computer console, and is speed limited). Drivers can be fired for breaking rules. I’m glad so many of you are seeing this for what it is–an opportunity to learn about something you may not have known before now. Perhaps it will save some of you one day. Yeah, it’s a long essay, but a lot of this can’t be summed up easily.
[Edit] Regarding air brakes, they do lock up in the “full brake” position when air is depleted, so pardon my incorrect explanation.

GREEN BAY – Round and around they go.
The circular intersection on Green Bay’s west side stays pretty busy.
The DOT says anywhere from 40,000 to 45,0000 cars and trucks travel through this roundabout on West Mason every single day.
But not everyone makes it through safely.
Officials say in the last four months at least three semis have tipped over in the roundabout at West Mason Street near U.S. 41.
Are roundabouts built to handle semis?
“A contributing factor in all three of them were drivers were going too fast,” said Randy Asman, DOT traffic engineer.
With more than 11,000 drivers, Schneider says it makes sure its drivers are well trained before they head out on the road full time.
That training also includes how to navigate a roundabout.
“We talk to them about, most critically, to look ahead and read the signs as to which lane they should set up in based on the way they want to navigate through. So are they going to do a through movement, a left turn, or a right turn and make sure that they’re in the correct lane,” said Senior V.P. Safety Security Schneider Safety & Security Donald Osterberg.
Brown County has the highest amount of roundabouts in the state totaling 47.
The DOT says they aren’t going away, by 2018 you’ll be seeing 26 more.
That’s because the circular intersections are considered much safer. Studies have shown roundabouts can reduce crashes by 75 percent at intersections where stop signs or signals used to be.
“Semi’s fit in all of our roundabouts. There’s a truck apron on the inside to help trucks maneuver through the roundabout. So are they not safe for roundabouts? I would say that’s not the case,” Asman said.
Asman says no matter what you’re driving, you should slow down and always pay attention while in a roundabout.
The DOT says drivers should give trucks enough room while traveling through a roundabout and never try to pass them.

Anyone who has ever traveled on a freeway or highway has probably come into range of a large truck or semi. These vehicles are massive in comparison to smaller passenger vehicles, so it makes sense that drivers may feel wary when they approach larger trucks.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration explains that it’s important to give large trucks enough space around them. Doing so makes it possible for the driver to see your vehicle by keeping the blind spots clear. Additionally, staying a distance away from the vehicle may give the driver more time to slow down or maneuver when necessary.
Large trucks have four main blind spots
When you approach a semitruck from the back, remember that there are four blind spots that you need to keep your vehicle out of. The first blind spot is directly behind the vehicle. If you are close enough to the back that you can’t see the driver’s mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
Two additional blind spots run along the sides of a semi. These are areas in which the mirror is angled in a way that it will miss any vehicles next to the truck, and the driver won’t see them when looking over, either.
The fourth blind spot is in front of the truck. If you weave in front of the truck too closely, the driver won’t be able to see you over the front hood.
Stopping distances are a challenge for large truck drivers
Another reason you need to give more space to large trucks is because of their stopping distances. Trucks, buses and other large vehicles need more time to stop, so you’ll want to be several car lengths ahead of the vehicle at all times.
Turns become problematic for truck drivers
Due to the shape of a large truck, drivers often have trouble turning and staying in the correct lane when turning right. They may swing wide to make enough room for their trailers. Passenger vehicle drivers should stay behind the white lines painted on the road to give them enough room to turn.
These are a few reasons why you need to be aware of large trucks and maintain your distance. Staying away could help you avoid a truck crash.

I cannot see you if you are within 25 car lengths behind. I can take a full length school bus, fold the mirrors in, and park it behind the truck, and you would never see it in my mirrors.”
Because of their size, semis need a significant safety cushion so they can stop safely, Hawkins explains. When the tank on the 55-foot to 60-foot long semi he drives is full, it takes the length of “one football field and both end zones to stop.”
Stopping distance can also be impacted by the cargo being carried. Smooth bore tankers (ones that don’t use baffles to compartmentalize their cargo) have nothing inside to slow down the flow of the liquid. Therefore, forward and back surge is very strong. Smooth bore tanks are usually those that transport food products such as milk. Sanitation regulations rule out the use of baffles because of the difficulty in cleaning the inside of the tank. Corrosive liquids are also routinely transported in smooth bore tanks.
He also warns passenger car drivers not to linger while passing big trucks. And once by a semi, Mr. Hawkins said, “don’t get back into the lane until you can see both my headlights in your rear view mirror.”
The American Trucking Association estimate there are 15 million trucks on U.S. roads and highways, 2.3 million of which are semis.
Truck drivers need a significant safety cushion so they can stop safely, Hawkins explains. When the tank on the 55-foot to 60-foot long semi he drives is full, it takes the length of “one football field and both end zones to stop.”
Mr. Hawkins, who lives in Perrysburg, has noticed some changes during his three decades behind the wheel of a rig: “Traffic is getting heavier and there’s not as much courtesy,” he said.
And sitting high in the cabin, truck drivers see quite easily into passenger vehicles. “I’ve seen guys shaving and people reading the newspaper,” he said — and yes, he means while they were driving.
“Everybody” is distracted, he laments, whether it’s young people talking to their friends, a parent trying to sooth a crying baby in the back seat, someone eating, or putting on makeup.
The No. 1 offense? That’s easy: passenger car motorists using hand-held cell phones to talk and text. And if you’re curious, Mr.

What is the widest load without permit?
Any load more than 8.5 feet wide is, by definition, an oversize load, and with few exceptions will require a state permit to travel on public highways. In some cases, on local, narrower roads, the maximum legal trailer width may be just 8 feet.
What size is a wide load?
If your load meets all weight limits, but not width limits, it is considered a wide load. Generally, if your vehicle or load is wider than 8'6″ you will need wide load permits. Legal length is usually 48′ to 53′, and maximum weight is about 46,000 pounds.
Can wide loads travel at night?
wide may move at night on Interstates and four-lane divided highways. In some cases, maximum width loads may be required to move at night during periods of least traffic.
Can pilot cars stop traffic?
“Yes, pilot cars are allowed to stop traffic and facilitate the movement of an oversize load through congested areas and other situations that would cause a danger to the public. “WAC 468-38-100 describes the requirements to become a pilot-vehicle operator and what they are required and allowed to do.”
What is the difference between oversize and wide load?
Oversize covers everything from over height, over width, over weight, over length. Wide Load is just another name for the over width loads.
How do you flag an oversize load?
"Oversize Load" signs and flags required for all over width and over length permit loads. Signs should be mounted at front bumper and at rear of load. Flags (18" x 18") should be mounted at corners of load and widest extremities. Over 4' rear overhang must be flagged (two flags if overhang is more than 2' wide).
What is classed as a wide load?
An 'abnormal load' is a vehicle that has any of the following: A weight of more than 44,000 kilograms. … An axle load of more than 11,500 kilograms for a single driving axle. A width of more than 2.9 metres. A length of more than 18.65 metres.
How do I get a wide load permit?
To obtain State permits, you will need to contact the State(s) in which you wish to travel.

(Boese, supra, at p. 458.) The court emphasized that the driver “`by the exercise of ordinary care could have parked said truck at a place reasonably convenient for making deliveries to the [market], and so as not to endanger the safety of plaintiff in crossing [the road] at the place in question. . . . `”(Id. at p. 457, italics omitted.) “[N]o evidence established that it was necessary to park the truck in its shown position in order to deliver dairy products at the store. In fact [the driver] testified he occasionally parked the truck elsewhere while making deliveries at the store. “(Id. at p. 458.)
In Atlantic Mutual v. Kenney (Ct.App. 1991)323 Md. 116 [591 A.2d 507] (Atlantic), a vehicle owned and insured by the plaintiffs that was traveling on a highway, Route 170, collided with a motorist who was attempting to make a left turn onto the highway from a shopping center parking lot. The court upheld an award of damages against the owner and operator of a parked truck that blocked the views of the drivers who collided. The trial judge who heard the case “could have found that [the driver’s] act in parking his 45-foot tractor trailer so as to occupy the entire curb area between the entrance and exit driveways of the shopping center would substantially obstruct the view of motorists using the exit and those proceeding on Route 170, and significantly increase the risk of an accident at that point. “(Id., 591 A.2d at p. 511.) The court wrote: “Even if we assume there was no violation of [a] parking statute, we conclude that the evidence was sufficient to support a finding that [the driver] was negligent in parking the tractor trailer. “(Ibid.) The court observed that “[p]arking an ordinary vehicle too close to a driveway or an intersection might not create the same risk. An ordinary motor vehicle is less than 18 feet in length and, because of front, side, and rear windows, often provides a view of traffic beyond it. “(Ibid.) However, the truck here “was no ordinary motor vehicle.

They struggle to swerve into another lane at short notice. Technical issues such as brake failure occasionally occur.
Truck drivers can be easily distracted while driving due to their job being so monotonous. Poor parking (or lack of!) creates obstructions and causes accidents. Bad driver behavior sometimes occurs, e.g. breaking the road rules, road rage, bullying. There’s also driver fatigue due to their shifts being so long, plus high staff turnover and poor training.
How To Stay Safe
We can’t do much about the size of trucks, but what we can work on is how to stay safe around them, especially if you live near highways or roads that are frequented by 18-wheelers.
The following tips may be of help:
Think Of Visibility And Distance
Make sure your car’s headlights are up to date (with no burnt-out bulbs) so drivers behind you can see you more easily. Even though some rigs have bright lights on top nowadays, many still rely upon old-fashioned halogen bulbs that will not light up the road as well. Don’t drive too closely to the truck in front of you, especially if it’s slowing down. Give them plenty of room and stay back several car lengths at least.
Trucks cannot see as well around their vehicle as smaller vehicles, although they are equipped with extra mirrors on both sides. As a result, you should never assume that the other driver can see you, and don’t try and pass a big rig on the right side while it’s making its turn. Instead, stay back until they are finished turning.
Be Careful In Lanes
Always pay attention when changing lanes near a large 18-wheeler and never cut one-off or try to force them into another lane. If you need to, let them have the right of way. Trucks often make wide turns due to their size, which means that you will need to allow them extra room when passing. Never try and share a lane with a truck or go-between lanes when driving near them. Never assume a truck is going to stay in its lane – it may drift over from time to time without the driver realizing.
Avoid distractions when driving near trucks, such as talking on your cell phone or fiddling with the radio. Stay aware of other cars around you, especially the ones that are much larger than your own.

This is probably the most common mistake in non-trucker thinking, and it’s likely because you don’t understand why trucks have a hard time stopping. 60,000lb trucks cannot. We have air brakes, and if you cause us to use our air up and not recharge quickly, we have no brakes for the next stop. The brakes can overheat very quickly, and when brakes get hot, they no longer work effectively. Stopping distance is increased significantly. Someone’s gonna die.
When you see a car broken down or stopped on the side of the road, you should really move a lane over. Why? Because people with suicidal thoughts hide on the front of vehicles. Happens more frequently than you’d believe. Jason Aldean, a popular country musician, just had this happen to his crew on a recent tour. Also, someone could be working on a car (fixing a flat, etc) and if you brush up against them, they’re going to die. You’re going to probably wreck after hitting them, and you’ll probably die. Was it so hard to just move over for a split second while you passed? What if some kid is on the other side of the car, and the brain-dead parent who let them out in the first place lost hold of them and they ran into the right lane? Seriously, if you don’t believe this stuff happens, then you’ve not driven enough yet. Also, you could be passing, and the car in the left lane next to you could force you (accidentally) onto the shoulder, and you might hit the parked car. You’re probably gonna die. Again, a split second can make a difference.
If a truck has a turn signal on to move to the left lane, there’s likely a very good reason for it. And one of those reasons is very likely NOT to make your day worse, so please don’t be the jerk who speeds up to cut it off and prevent it from moving over. They’re probably trying to avoid something like a parked car in the emergency lane. Trucks also run on cruise control, and they tend to keep a constant speed except on hills. If a truck is slowed down, it takes a lot more effort to get started going again. Again, the driver is just trying to stay moving. He or she isn’t trying to give you a hard time.

Department of Transportation (DOT) has stated its concern in several studies about the increased chances of finding poor brakes on bigger trucks with more axles. Heavier trucks also have a higher risk of rollovers as they add more weight on the same number of axles. … When those loads also involve cargo that can easily shift, such as…liquids in cargo tanks, extra-heavy trucks become extremely unstable in emergency steering maneuvers or when sudden braking is required to negotiate a sharp curve.
…the U.S. DOT found that if LCVs increased their operations nationwide, they would suffer an 11 percent higher overall fatal crash rate. This finding was further confirmed in another DOT study that specifically cautioned against the increased use of long combinations pulling multiple trailers because of amplification or sway of the last trailing units and poorer control of load transfer as compared with single semi-trailer trucks which makes LCVs more prone to out-of-control and rollover crashes.
Another coalition of 150 companies, including Kraft Foods, Coca-Cola, and Miller-Coors, is currently lobbying Congress to allow trucks weighing 120% of current limits to haul on interstate highways. Congress is preparing to consider a bill allowing states to raise truck weight limits on interstate highways from 80,000 pounds to 97,000. Trucks would then be required to add a sixth trailer axle to compensate for additional weight.
Opponents of the bill include railroad companies, which fear loss of market share to larger trucks, a group of survivors of the 2007 Minneapolis bridge collapse, state public-safety officials, and some independent truckers. These independents, represented by the Independent Drivers Association, fear they would be pushed into buying costly new rigs. The IDA’s representative says stability is "substantially reduced on bigger and heavier trucks."
Map: Coalition Against Bigger Trucks
Also supporting larger, heavier trucks is the Reason Foundation, a Los Angeles-based, self-described libertarian think-tank. The Foundation is a driving force in support of greatly expanding the role of trucking in the U.S. The Foundation supports tolling all interstates to generate money to maintain and build more highway lanes. They also advocate for private toll roads and truck-only toll roads both for LCVs and for general truck transportation. The foundation endorses greater federal spending to re-construct interstate highways, including a new national system of truck-only toll lanes.

Accelerating truck freight volume has many deleterious public health and safety implications for those traveling these routes, and residents who live near these burgeoning “freight corridors.”
In Tennessee, the state Department of Transportation projects that heavy truck VMT will grow 50% faster than the growth rate for any other vehicle type.
Tennessee Department of Transportation, Plan Go--I-40/I-81 Corridor Feasibility Study, Bristol to Memphis, TN, 2008
While large trucks accounted for three percent of all registered vehicles and seven percent of total vehicle miles traveled in 2003, about 12 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2004 resulted from a collision involving a large truck.
A battle is raging over the expanding role trucks play in American transportation. The Coalition Against Bigger Trucks is an alliance of consumer, health and safety and major insurance companies and insurance agents’ organizations. The banner “headline” on their home page says, “One triple trailer truck is as long as a Boeing 737 and as heavy as 27 SUVs.” This coalition is a leader in the fight against state or federal legislation that would allow Longer Combination Vehicles (LCVs)—“Triples” trucks hauling three 28-foot trailers, “Doubles,” trucks pulling two trailers—one at least 48 feet, the other 28 feet long, or two 48-foot or longer trailers.
Office of Transportation Policy Studies, FHWA U.S. DOT,
Lobbying pressure from the railroads and safety advocates led Congress in 1991 to freeze expansion of the operation of LCVs on interstate highways to only those western states where they were then legal. However, the 19 state governors of the Western Governors’ Association recently petitioned Congress to allow trailer doubles and triples up to 120 feet long on Western interstates.
Testifying before the U.S. Senate and Public works Committee in July, 2008, Jackie Gillan, Vice President of the Coalition explained in detail some of the major safety concerns about heavier and longer trucks and LCVs with multiple trailers:
Each year, about 5,000 people die in crashes involving big trucks and this fatality toll has not changed in the past decade. A large part of the reason is the increased numbers of heavier trucks, sometimes pulling two and even three trailers …
Roadcheck 2008 found that 52.6 percent of all commercial motor vehicle defects resulting in OOS[Out of Service] orders were faulty brakes. The U.S.

You can regain your speed in a matter of a few seconds. Trucks take a lot more energy and time to do the same.
About that cruise control, a lot of you need to understand how that works in your own cars. It’s profoundly frustrating to have to leapfrog with cars who can’t hold a constant speed. I mean, you really have no idea. About the only thing I can think of here is like trying to pass someone on foot in a crowded airport as you are running to catch a connector, and the people in front of you keep moving left and right, oblivious to you behind them, and you can’t get around. I know it’s not the exact same, but you know how irritating that is, right? Passing a truck and slowing down so they have to pass you is profoundly worse.
Do not (and I can’t stress this enough) ride alongside a truck, ever. Scenario: You’re in the left lane trying to pass a truck in the right. If there’s a car in front of you, and you’re both not passing the truck quickly, and you’re sort of “lingering” waiting for the a*&hat in front of you to move on, you’re in the kill zone. Two horrible things can happen. First and most obvious, if the truck loses control or has to change lanes quickly, you’re going to get crushed because the truck has nowhere else to go. You’re the path of least resistance. You’re probably gonna die. Second is that trucks tend to have tire blowouts. If you’ve never seen the power of a truck tire blowout, take a minute to look up such videos on Youtube. It may scare the shit out of you from the comfort of your chair right now. And if it scares the shit out of you while you’re behind the wheel, you will lose control of your own car and drive under the rig or off the road. It’s exactly like hearing a bomb go off, and sometimes the tire exits the truck with such force that it will knock a car off the road. Your reaction skills likely will not save you. Many times, the truck can lose control and crash. It always swerves right before the worst, and if you’re in that kill zone, you’re going out with it.

That’s a deadly combination that could easily lead to an accident.
The government has actually passed laws to make sure that drivers get the amount of sleep they should. The requirements are that for every 11 hours of driving, the drivers should have ten consecutive hours of rest. That “rest” isn’t just sleep – it’s eight hours of sleep mixed with a two hour break. Unfortunately, not every driver sticks to this. That can lead them to be fatigued when they head back out on the road, thus raising the possibility that they cause a crash.
That being said, studies have shown that a minority of big rig accidents are actually caused by the big rig drivers themselves. Instead, they’re caused by other drivers. This can happen for a variety of reasons. Trucks have large “blind spots,” bigger than a car or other kind of vehicle might have. If you’re driving in this vehicle’s blind spot, no matter how talented and conscientious the truck driver is, they might not be able to see you.
If you’ve never driven a big rig, then you might not be aware of how fast they can be. Too many accidents occur every year because someone misjudged the speed of a big rig. They thought it wasn’t going as fast as it actually was, and then crashed into it. This can also manifest itself when someone merges in front of the truck and then reduces their speed. Big rigs can do a lot of things, but they don’t exactly stop on a dime.
Making a left turn in front of a truck is often necessary, particularly if you’re on a major highway. However, you want to be as careful as possible when doing this. Make sure that you’re paying the truck the proper respect and not treating it like it’s some kind of regular car. Obviously, whenever you turn, you always want to signal. However, you want to be especially clear about signaling when you change lanes around a big rig. You’re already a careful driver; when it comes to big rigs, it doesn’t hurt to be a bit more careful.
The LA Injury Group can help you through every kind of big rig accident. These accidents are more common than most people think. In southern California, with so much time spent on the road, with so many trucks around, these accidents occur frequently. When you’re hurt in a big rig accident, it’s natural to not know where to turn.

The public needs to understand that time restrictions are all fine and well if there is adequate parking, and every rule restricting drive hours needs to be accompanied by money to fund it. Making rules is pointless if you don’t provide people a way to follow them.
4. Being impatient isn’t going to make us go faster. Honking and pulling around us unsafely isn’t going to do anything other than risk both our lives, and the lives of everyone else around us. Bryan has excellent advice. “This is not NASCAR out here! They are not saving any gas by being two feet off our trailer. It makes us nervous.” He goes on to say, “If we are kind enough to move over to allow you to get on the freeway, then do so. Move ahead of us, or slow down enough so we can get back in the slow lane where we belong.”
5. No matter how big your personal vehicle is, it’s not anything like driving a commercial vehicle. You can’t impose your driving experience in a Hummer with a boat trailer onto being able to understand what it’s like to drive a tractor-trailer — it’s not the same, it’s not even close, it never will be. If you want to learn what it’s like to drive a tractor-trailer, ride along in one for a day. A lot of states and private entities have instituted truck awareness programs and implemented driving safety around commercial vehicles in their drivers’ education. If you are a newly licensed individual, or have teenagers who will be driving soon, this type of education is incredibly important, especially if you’re using the highways. Which leads us to more advice from drivers.6. “We make wide turns…if we swing to the left and have our right signal on it isn’t because we are dyslexic…we need that much room.” Candy Crichfield goes on to explain the nuances of those wide rights: “If you see I am going to be turning your way (hint: there are little flashy lights all along the side of the truck indicating that I am going to turn) stop short and let me around.”
7. Christine Gonyea and Richard Porky Young both mentioned the importance of four wheelers understanding blind spots.

By Garland H. Campbell, Dublin, VA
Those of you who think confining trucks to right-hand lanes will promote highway safety need to hear from someone older and wiser. I’m 62, with over 30 years of trucking the 48, two and a half million safe miles. An important rule of safe driving is to maintain a “cushion of air,” that is, space, all around your vehicle. That’s no one in front or behind or on either side of you. This is being destroyed with the possibility of lane restrictions!
Already you have the public (four-wheelers) trained to keep to the right. Most of them are not at work, just in transit, with their minds who knows where. They create a significant volume of traffic in those right lanes. Why then do you want to further congest those lanes with our big trucks? To move us to where we are not welcome, and where there is no room for us?
You deny me my rights to exercise my skills of safe driving by presuming to make choices for me! You attempt to put into a box what will not fit in a box. Therefore, you assume all liability for my safety and the safety of the motoring public by posting your lane restrictions. My first priority is to drive safely and protect myself!
If a truck length is 70 feet and you attach four spaces to each truck and you have 5,280 trucks, how many miles of highway do you need? Now, answer the same question for cars, say adding 30 feet per car length. Now, add them together. Remember, according to guidelines, four spaces are only good for 40 mph.
Now do you see why my advice is to remove all lane restrictions so the traffic can make full use of the highway space we have? No one in an office can make the decision for a driver on the highway. He must be free to make his own decision. Remove the signs.

Many large commercial truck companies dispatch their defense attorneys and accident investigators to the accident scene as soon as possible following an accident involving a large truck or tractor-trailer. This occurs whatever time of day or night and, in many cases, the defense attorneys and/or accident investigators can arrive before the local police! These commercial companies have a lot at stack after an accident, since their big rigs can cause serious injuries. The defense attorneys will prepare the driver to speak with the police in a way to minimize the exposure of the trucking company, if at all possbile. For these reasons, it is extremely important that you contact a California commercial truck accident attorney if you have been injured or suffered the loss of a loved one in a large California truck or tractor-trailer accident.
Some Reasons as to Why Large Commercial Truck Accidents Occur:
- Inattentive drivers or drivers who fall asleep at the wheel (this is a big reason!)
- Negligent maintenance and/or repair of tractor trailers (failure to properly maintain)
- Bad weather conditions, including rain, snow, or ice
- Inability to brake in time to avoid acciden
- The physics do not lie: Tractor-trailers can weigh 10 times more than a passenger vehicle, and sometimes even more than that. Therefore, the amount of time it takes for a large truck or tractor trailer to brake and stop is significantly greater than that of a passenger vehicle. If a tractor-trailer driver does not maintain a reasonable and safe distance behind passenger vehicles while driving, they may be unable to stop and avoid an accident in the event of an emergency.
United States federal regulations limit the amount of time a driver of a tractor-trailer may spend driving in a single day, and over the course of a week. This is for good reason regulated because again, there is a lot at stake with big rig truck drivers and potential vehicle accidents. However, reality can dictate what the truck drivers actually do. Since the truck drivers have pressure by their corporate employers to deliver their cargo and/or make additional earnings, commercial truck drivers frequently disregard federal and state laws and drive for more hours than permitted by federal and state law. Some even go so far as to maintain and a falsify sets of log book/sleep logs; and use medication to get them "artificially awake."

Resident David Bastille has created signs for the neighborhood, which read “Big trucks belong on the big roads.” Fellow resident Suzanne Lehmert Adelman is helping distribute these signs, available for $10 to cover production costs.
“We have a very big problem over here. We are under siege from these HUGE trucks, and it gets worse every day. We are doing our best, but let’s face it ... they are bigger than us,” says Lehmert Adelman, a school bus driver for the town of Holliston.

You can’t see around it, you don’t know why they’re driving slowly, and you won’t succeed in trying to move it with your car. And if you happen to hit it, there’s a chance the truck won’t even move, so you could wreck and the driver would never know.
Again on the highway, please for the love of all humanity, don’t cut off a truck by leapfrogging it and jumping between it and the car or truck it is following. You’re going to scare the hell out of the driver, and you are taking a stupid risk in getting crushed if anything goes wrong with the truck we’re driving. Plenty of times I was in the passing lane following another vehicle as we passed a slower one, and someone would come up the right lane and try to butt in and get ahead. One guy tried to push me with his little 4 door Jeep Wrangler. Seriously, he tried coming over on my lane, hand out the window giving me the finger, trying to get me to slow down so he could cut in front. I didn’t budge, but he kept trying to “occupy” my lane. He was taking his life and that of his passengers into foolish territory, because the truck I was in is 60,000 pounds. It would have rolled right over the Jeep. Some of you are thinking “You should have slowed down and let him over.” Ok, so now you’re the car behind me who is tailgating me, and I slow down to let this impatient guy cut me off with less than a car length at 70mph. Now you’re slowed down because I’m slowed down, and the cars behind you are slowed down. And if you’re tailgating me, you’re probably going to wreck horribly if the guy in front of me does manage to get under my wheels. And all this because some douche thought he was better than everyone in the left lane, and rode out the right lane to pass everyone else. If we all come to a stop 30 miles down the road, I assure you, that guy would have gained about 10 car lengths on me. Look at the risks he took for such a small accomplishment.
Just because our trucks are large doesn’t mean we’re going slow or that we can stop.

Related to #4, driveways should not be located too close to nearby street intersections. Doing so will create offset or dog-leg intersections with other streets or high-volume driveways. Offset intersections can create erratic traffic patterns and detract from drivers' abilities to look out for pedestrians.
6. Skewed driveway and street intersections (those not at right angles) can cause problems. Intersection angles should be between 75 and 90 degrees.
7. It is often desirable for parking lot exit driveways to have two lanes, one for left-turning vehicles and one for right turners. This helps reduce congestion, because the right-turning cars can proceed while the left turners are waiting for traffic from the right to clear.
8. Lane-use signs and pavement markings specified by the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) should be employed to demark traffic lanes. The examples in the MUTCD represent decades of experience with what works and what doesn't.
9. Signs, utility poles and other appurtenances should not be too close to the edge of the traffic lanes or parking areas. Objects within striking distance of an overhanging bumper will be struck. Even for low-speed situations, the major engineering manuals recommend at least a 1.5- to 2-foot clearance from the face-of-curb top the near edge of any roadside appurtenance. It is not unusual to see sign installation crews place the sign pole behind the curb, but not allow for the width of the sign, so the sign itself protrudes out into the space occupied by vehicles.
10. A school bus is wider and longer than a passenger car, so it requires more room to maneuver. School buses also have much greater offtracking on sharp turns. Lanes and aisles intended for school buses need to be wider so the bus will not sideswipe other vehicles. The designer must check driveways and streets intended for school bus use to make sure that all intersections and curves provide plenty of room for the bus to turn. The designer may even need to make measurements of the turning path taken by school buses and provide a margin in excess of the minimum space needed for school buses. Recently published results of field tests conducted at the University of Arkansas included drawings of the measured turning paths of the largest Type C and D school buses.

Many people owe their livelihoods to trucking: according to the American Trucking Associations, there are 7.4 million people employed in the American trucking industry, including 3.5 million truck drivers.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 2018 Pocket Guide to Large Truck and Bus Statistics reports that in 2016, there were more than 2.7 million tractor-trailers registered in the U.S., and they travelled a total of 287.9 billion miles on U.S. roads that year. (The FMCSA is a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation.)
Also found in that publication is 2016 roadside inspection data. This data shows that a total of 342,736 drivers were cited for failure to log, update, or provide accurate information Driver’s Record of Duty Status in that year alone. 51,149 drivers had worked beyond the eight-hour limit since the end of their last off-duty or sleeper period.
As a result, there were more than 500,000 collisions reported involving large trucks in the U.S. in 2016. Of these crashes, 119,000 led to injuries and 4,213 crashes led to deaths. According to early data for 2017, there were 4,455 fatal crashes.
Causes of Large Truck Accidents:
- The truck is traveling too fast for the conditions;
- The truck is following the vehicle in front too closely, resulting in a rear-end collision;
- The truck is not in a roadworthy condition;
- The truck’s brakes are worn or otherwise incapable of stopping the truck in time to avoid a collision;
- The truck driver is fatigued or falling asleep at the wheel from not taking the required rest periods;
- Driver inattentiveness or distraction;
- Drug use, especially to keep the driver awake;
- Making an illegal maneuver;
- Failing to yield the right of way before entering a roadway or making a turn;
- The driver losing control of the truck due to such things as a shifting load or inclement weather conditions such as rain, snow, or high winds.
Who Regulates Trucks?
The FMCSA federal regulations regarding truckers, including quality control, weight limitations, and mandated rest time. The FMCSA also enforces the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, which outlines the standards for obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Villasenor is one of 45 students taking classes at the 6-year-old Star school to try to master driving trucks bearing trailers that legally can extend 53 feet and weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Just managing the oversize wheel is like hugging a beach ball.
For Babbitt, co-founder of the school, it has taken nearly a quarter-century of professional driving to make him more comfortable in the roomy confines of a truck's cab than in his regular car. But he knows it is not the same for beginners.
"Seventy percent of the students come in here thinking it would be easy," Babbitt said as he stood in a 100-yard strip of blacktop outside Star Truck's offices. "They think, `I like to drive, so I'll be a truck driver.' Then they say, `I had no idea it was this hard.' "
That is why Babbitt's school spends so much time on the basics, requiring students to perform maneuvers again and again--backing up straight, backing into docks at an angle, turning right. Babbitt and three other instructors put students through their paces, shifting the company's Ford 2500Ns and practicing among cones set up in a shipping terminal lot just north of the Hawthorne Race Course.
Student Jerry Gagliano, 40, a Cicero cosmetologist, repeatedly backed the large white tractor-trailers through the cones, sometimes with a bob and a weave, sometimes with the load listing behind the rig. But never perfectly.
"I know the principle behind it," he said later. "I just need to not do it too fast."
That is the basic problem with Villasenor's right turns. Babbitt patiently coaches him "to get tight to the curb" and "watch your trailer all the way through until it hits the pinnacle of a corner, the apex," but Villasenor has yet to accomplish a completely on-target turn.
Another hard thing to master, he said, is learning to trust the outsized mirrors that help him chart the movement of his trailer. Still, even the mirrors cannot help a trucker with the enormous blind spots.
Then there is shifting, which is more complicated than handling the manual transmission in an automobile. In cars, drivers depress the clutch once. But in a truck, operators must work it twice: once to move out of gear, then again to move to another.

In many countries, driving a truck requires a special driving license. The requirements and limitations vary with each different jurisdiction.
As we've learned the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 was crucial in the construction of the Interstate Highway System. Described as an interconnected network of the controlled-access freeway. It also allowed larger trucks to travel at higher speeds through rural and urban areas alike.This act was also the first to allow the first federal largest gross vehicle weight limits for trucks, set at 73,208 pounds (33,207 kg). The very same year, Malcolm McLean pioneered modern containerized intermodal shipping. This allowed for the more efficient transfer of cargo between truck, train, and ships.
The public idea of the trucking industry in the United States popular culture has gone through many transformations.However, images of the masculine side of trucking are a common theme throughout time.The 1940's first made truckers popular, with their songs and movies about truck drivers. Then in the 1950's theywere depictedas heroes of the road, living a life of freedom on the open road.Trucking culture peaked in the 1970's as theywere glorifiedas modern days cowboys, outlaws, and rebels. Since then the portrayal has come with a more negative connotation as we see in the 1990's.Unfortunately, the depiction of truck drivers went from such a positive depiction to that of troubled serial killers.
The United States' Interstate Highway System is full of bypasses and loops with the designation of a three-digit number.Usually beginning with an even digit, it is important to note that this pattern ishighlyinconsistent. For example, in Des Moines, Iowa the genuine bypass is the main route.Morespecifically, it is Interstate 35 and Interstate 80, with the loop into downtown Des Moines being Interstate 235. As itis illustratedin this example, they do not alwaysconsistentlybegin with an even number.However, the 'correct' designationis exemplifiedin Omaha, Nebraska.In Omaha, Interstate 480 traverses the downtown area, whichis bypassed byInterstate 80, Interstate 680, and Interstate 95. Interstate 95 then in turn goes through Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Furthermore, Interstate 295 is the bypass around Philadelphia, which leads into New Jersey.Although this can all be rather confusing, it is most important to understand the Interstate Highway System and the role bypasses play.

And quit calling me Shirley.
I climbed up into the city from I-95. There was a sign directing Wide Load traffic to the left. There is also several steel columns for the elevated train all over the road. There must also be a school because backpack toting pedestrians are everywhere. In front of me is a street; two traffic lanes and a left turn center lane. The steel columns are on either side of the center lane making it a tunnel. While the light is still red, I scan the scene calculating if I should angle through the center lane into the far right or if I should go all the way through the intersection and make the full turn.
Normally a left turn is much preferred to a right turn in a semi. Your trailer will 'off-track' as you pull it through the corner. This causes the trailer to turn further inside the corner than you and the cab do. A left turn gives you the whole road to work with. A right turn is tight. Trucks will take out stop signs, light poles and pedestrians if the driver is not careful. The steel columns in the middle of traffic pretty much make this left more like a right turn.
Times Up!! The light is green. On impulse, I take the full turn. I pushed my luck enough back in the construction zone. Halfway through the turn, I am way too close to one of the steel columns. I turn wider and ride the curb with my right hand steer tire. We just make it through. The next light is a right turn back to the highway. I am taking this turn very wide too. On the entrance ramp, there is one of those little triangular island curbs to ease the flow around the curve and separate the traffic coming straight across from the left. The backpack toting crowd all jostle to a halt as I go right up and over the island. My diesel tanks are just 8" above the ground. Luckily the curb is quite low. No sense in having a HazMat spill in the city. Whew, I am back on the highway and headed to my pickup. How the hell would a Wide Load get through there?
I get back to the the area around I-495 and realize the exit goes both east and west. I don't know why the Atlas uses different shields for the two roads. I quickly find Van Dam and exit again.

Websites and Citations:
- Theme Music: Five Star Fall, Mercurial Girl, Magnatune.com
Hello and welcome to another edition of Talking Traffic. My name is Bill Ruhsam and I host this podcast and its sister website, talking traffic dot org. Today is Monday, June 27, 2011. This is episode 39 of Talking traffic.
Today’s topic is about trucks. All kinds of trucks. But before I dive into the nebulous term that is “trucks” let me throw some engineer-speak at you.
When we are designing or analyzing roads, we talk about the “Design Vehicle”. The design vehicle is the largest type of vehicle that is most likely to use that road. For example, if I’m working on a residential subdivision, I dont’ need to design the road to allow a tractor-trailer to turn around in a cul-de-sac. No, a typical large vehilce for a subdivision would be a UPS or FedEx truck. Now, the occasional tractor trailer might come into that roadway, maybe a moving truck, but it only happens occasionally, and the inconvenience caused by having to back up a tractor-trailer to turn it around is small compared to the inconvenience of designing the subdivision to allow the truck to drive around as if it were an interstate.
It’s important to determine at teh very beginning what your design vehicle is because it will affect many different things in your roadway project.
Now, let’s talk about trucks. When I, as a traffic engineer say “truck”, I mean some specific types of vehicles. I’m not talking about pickups or SUVs or dooleys or anything that you migt see in a Ford commercial. I’m talking about larger vehicles that are intended to carry freight. These trucks break down into two cateogries. Single Unit trucks, and Multi Unit trucks.
Single Unit trucks are trucks that don’t articulate, that have a single frame to which the wheels are attached. UPS and FedEx trucks are good examples of these. dump trucks and garbage trucks and smaller moving trucks are all examples of the single unit truck.
Multi-unit trucks include the typical tractor-trailer combination that you see everywhere. These come in various sizes measured from the center of the front axle to the center of the rear most axle. So, when I’m throwing engineering speak at people.

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GREEN BAY - Round and around they go.
The circular intersection on Green Bay's west side stays pretty busy.
The DOT says anywhere from 40,000 to 45,0000 cars and trucks travel through this roundabout on West Mason every single day.
But not everyone makes it through safely.
Officials say in the last four months at least three semis have tipped over in the roundabout at West Mason Street near U.S. 41.
Are roundabouts built to handle semis?
"A contributing factor in all three of them were drivers were going too fast," said Randy Asman, DOT traffic engineer.
With more than 11,000 drivers, Schneider says it makes sure its drivers are well trained before they head out on the road full time.
That training also includes how to navigate a roundabout.
"We talk to them about, most critically, to look ahead and read the signs as to which lane they should set up in based on the way they want to navigate through. So are they going to do a through movement, a left turn, or a right turn and make sure that they're in the correct lane," said Senior V.P. Safety Security Schneider Safety & Security Donald Osterberg.
Brown County has the highest amount of roundabouts in the state totaling 47.
The DOT says they aren't going away, by 2018 you'll be seeing 26 more.
That's because the circular intersections are considered much safer. Studies have shown roundabouts can reduce crashes by 75 percent at intersections where stop signs or signals used to be.
"Semi's fit in all of our roundabouts. There's a truck apron on the inside to help trucks maneuver through the roundabout. So are they not safe for roundabouts? I would say that's not the case," Asman said.
Asman says no matter what you're driving, you should slow down and always pay attention while in a roundabout.
The DOT says drivers should give trucks enough room while traveling through a roundabout and never try to pass them.