How Do We Prevent Tractor-Trailer Accidents and Stay Safe

Accidents have become a common occurrence, especially on the highways where the tractor-trailers get mostly driven. Due to the vehicle’s huge size and length, the drivers often find it challenging to negotiate bends and curves on the road. If they happen to cross a certain speed limit, suddenly controlling the vehicle becomes impossible, leading to mishaps or accidents.

Other vehicular traffic that shares the road with these tractor trailers finds it difficult, especially during peak traffic. The smaller vehicle finds it difficult to overtake or follow behind a tractor-trailer if it doesn’t follow federal safety regulations.

Drivers must adhere to these regulations to ensure fewer accidents occur on the roadways. Hence, drivers of regular passenger vehicles and tractor-trailers have to follow safety measures to ensure that the roads are safe for driving.

Avoiding tractor-trailer collisions

The statistics on road accidents are disheartening, as the number of collisions involving motor vehicles and commercial trucks outstrips all other recorded accident cases. To reduce the number of such accidents in the future, all tractor-trailer drivers must follow prevention measures to keep the roads safe.

Accidents involving tractor trailers can result in life-changing injuries and other types of losses. Thus, we must know how to prevent and respond to such accidents. To get maximum compensation, consult a reputed Queens personal injury lawyer for effective legal advice.

Here are 10 safety measures that will help to prevent tractor-trailer accidents.

Road signs play a vital role, and when you arrive at blind spots, large trucks need ample room to negotiate the turn. Due to the size of the vehicle, tractor-trailer drivers have visibility issues and must make cautious turns in blind spots. The side-view mirror must show the truck driver to the passenger vehicle. If the side view mirror fails to show the truck driver to the passenger vehicle, it significantly reduces the likelihood that they will see you. In situations where a mishap could occur, maintain a four-car distance to avoid straying into the no-zone area, thereby potentially preventing an accident.
In your rush to get ahead, you may end up squeezing into space, probably between two trucks. Therefore, as the rucks maneuver through blind spots, your vehicle is at risk of collision. The best possible option is not to speed up your vehicle and try to bypass the tractor-trailer. If you manage to squeeze in, it will pose a challenge for the larger vehicle to safely maneuver around other vehicles.
Unlike other motor vehicles that can easily bypass the tractor trailer, regular passenger vehicles must wait for their turn to pass. However, the driver of such commercial vehicles must exercise patience. There is a need to maintain a constant speed when passing ahead instead of making a desperate dash and coming suddenly in front of the tractor-trailer. When bypassing a trailer truck, the essential tips are not to do so in the bends and curves of the road, when approaching hills, and on two-lane roadways.
Another mistake often made by regular passenger vehicles when negotiating tractor-trailers is switching lanes in front of the truck, thereby not giving enough space for the truck to pass by. Sometimes the heavy commercial vehicles have to use emergency braking, resulting in the trailer’s toppling, or it may veer off the road, causing a catastrophic collision.
We must understand that larger vehicles cannot suddenly halt and steer into the path of other vehicles, which can lead to accidents involving multiple cars. Evaluate the available space before making a move, and use honking and indicators to communicate your intention to other vehicles.
Driving safely on roadways can save lives. Rash and negligent driving can endanger the lives of several motorists. Large vehicles often struggle to accelerate or decelerate due to the significant weight of the cargo they transport. They need to adhere to certain speed zones, all the while negotiating blind spots. Negotiating the traffic is a task in itself. Avoid bypassing the tractor-trailer; exceeding a speed limit may be the cause of accidents.
These accidents are usually grievous, mostly due to the size and type of cargo they carry. When attempting to bypass a tractor-trailer, several cars have to bear the brunt of a single motorist’s mistake or negligence by swerving out of the path or even changing lanes, which can lead to heartbreaking collisions.
When pulling over on the highway, turn on your emergency lights. Try to find wide shoulder or pull-off spots on the roadside, especially between exits. Collisions are more likely if the trailer-tractor driver fails to notice you or pulls over in the wrong bend or narrow lane.
Stop getting distracted when driving, especially when the motorways are jam-packed or there are tractor-trailers. Long routes or long hours driving can cause boredom. As a result, the driver loses focus and awareness about their speed and driving style. The tractor-trailer driver cannot gauge your speed when you are behind them. To prevent and swerve accidents during bends and curves on the road, you must leave a specific space.
The highway isn’t the time to experiment or drive according to your whim and fancy; proper road rules and caring for other drivers’ safety are mandatory. You must pass commercial trucks quickly and with caution. Being predictable on the road will help other drivers understand your movements, potentially preventing accidents.

Safety should be your top priority

Following safety measures will enable all drivers to avoid getting into accidents, thus avoiding losing lives and property. Understanding the challenges that commercial truck drivers face can help regular passenger motor vehicle drivers avoid being rash when driving alongside them on roadways by exercising caution, preventing many accidents, and making roads a safer place to travel.

A tractor-trailer collision can result in fatal injuries and extensive damage to the vehicles. If you ever face such accidents, you must consult an experienced tractor trailer accident attorney to represent you strongly in front of the court. Lawyers can provide extended legal assistance in order to get compensation.