When a passenger vehicle crosses paths with an eighteen wheeler it is usually the passenger vehicle that takes the biggest loss. Driving close to a big eighteen-wheeler could be the end of you if you do not follow some sensible guidelines. As a truck driver I get to see the ignorance of people who drive four-wheelers (that’s CB slang for a standard passenger vehicle, in case you didn’t already know that) on a daily basis. People who have no experience with truck driving are usually clueless about what it takes to drive a big rig due to lack of exposure.
Four-wheelers often unknowingly put themselves in danger simply because they do not have a proper understanding of the limitations of a big rig. In this piece I will attempt to remedy this somewhat by outlining five of the most common maneuvers and habits that should be avoided by four-wheelers in order to decrease your chances of being the victim of a disaster with an eighteen-wheeler.
Numero Cinco: Do not operate your cell phone while driving close to an eighteen-wheeler.
This one is so obvious that I should not have to point this out, but since I see it so often, here it is. You need to be aware of your surroundings 100% of the time when driving. As equipment ages it wears out and breaks down. Even if the truck driver is driving safely, one of his tires could blow and pieces flying off could potentially fly through your windshield, or it might cause him to temporarily swerve into your lane. Just long enough to put you in the ditch. When an accident happens it takes place in a matter of seconds. When traveling at high speeds, one, or two seconds of reaction time could be the difference between survival and death. The result is final, there is no do over, so reaction time is critical. If you survive, but your passenger is killed, you will be left playing the scenario over and over and over again in your mind, wishing you had done things differently as a deep sense of sorrow hangs over you, and oppresses you. Neither one of us wants that my friend.
Numero Quatro: Do not move past the white line to wait while stopped at a red light, or stop sign.
That line is put there for a reason. If an eighteen-wheeler is approaching the intersection from your right and making a left turn (this is specific to U.S. driving conditions since Brits drive on the wrong side of the road ;) then the truck is going to need that extra room provided by the white line in order to have enough space to make the turn, due to the added length of the trailer he is pulling. If you have pulled up past the line and he does not have enough room to make the turn without clipping the front of your vehicle, then he will be forced to stop in the middle of the intersection and wait for you to back up. Chances are that there will already be a couple of cars behind you and you will have to get them to back up before you can do the same. Since people like to use a stop at an intersection to check their cell phone, it may take some time to get their attention. In the meantime, the intersection is blocked by the truck, risking an accident by someone else, who is texting while driving, possibly slamming into the truck.
Numero Tres: Do not pass an eighteen wheeler on the right-hand side.
This is a general rule to which there are some exceptions. The reason for this one is that visibility for the truck driver is significantly decreased on the passenger side of the truck. Yes there is a rear view mirror, but some blind spots remain. If the truck driver begins to make a lane change while you are beside him he is less likely to see you on his passenger side than on the driver side. This applies mainly when on a two lane road. If you are driving in an urban area where there are three, or more lanes it is more reasonable to expect to be able to pass on the right, but do so cautiously and quickly. Do not ride beside the truck, move on past as soon as possible and do not put yourself at risk just to be on the safe side.
Numero Dos: Do not cut in too close in front of an eighteen wheeler.
Think about it….the maximum allowable weight for a standard eighteen-wheeler is 80,000 pounds. That much weight will not stop on a dime the way a car does. If you are thinking to yourself, “That’s not true, I’ve seen trucks make quick stops.” I will then say to you, “Yeah, that’s because the driver did not have a load and the trailer was empty.” The faster a loaded truck is going, the more space it needs to come to a complete stop. If the truck is going full speed and the driver tries to make a hard stop, the back of the trailer is then going to be carried sideways around the cab causing the truck to jack-knife and take out anyone who may be traveling beside him. Think about it again….is jumping in front of potentially 80,000 lbs. traveling down the road a smart thing to do? If your car breaks down and begins to decelerate, do you really want 80,000 lbs. bearing down on top of you? When you pass a truck on the road give it some room, oh say seven car lengths, before you move back into the same lane. Give the truck driver, and yourself, some room to react if something goes wrong with your vehicle. It may save your life.
Numero Uno: Do not tailgate, or pace an eighteen-wheeler.
This is the most common offense I see committed by four-wheelers, and eighteen wheelers. If you are traveling behind an eighteen-wheeler and cannot see his mirrors, then he cannot see you and may not know that you are behind him. Also, you cannot see what is on the road ahead of you. If the truck driver has to make a quick, hard stop because of a sudden traffic back-up, kids suddenly running out into the road, a deer, or whatever, then you may not have enough time to react before you eat his bumper with your car. Most of the time you can tailgate and nothing will happen, but all it takes is that one time to ruin you and your family’s life forever. Remember, it is better to get somewhere thirty minutes late than it is to never get there at all, so do not get in such a rush.
Now let’s review:
1. Do not tailgate.
2. Do not cut a truck off.
3. Do not pass a truck on the right-hand side.
4. Do not move past the white line to wait while stopped at a red light, or stop sign.
5. Do not text & drive.
The last thing a smart (and not all of them are) and experienced truck driver wants is to cause injury to any member of a family riding in a four-wheeler. For the sake of you, and everyone you love, please consider and exercise these simple driving tips every time you get behind the wheel. It is a matter of accepting your portion of personal responsibility. Do not be afraid to be a back-seat driver if you are riding with someone who is not observing these guidelines, because both of your lives depend on it. It is a matter of life and death.
Live long and prosper,
and happy cruising!
While this video doesn't necessarily show the situations I went over in the article, it does give one a good idea of how disastrous the consequences are for careless driving around a truck. (This video is not mine. However, all of the photos were taken by me about twelve years ago with an old Samsung phone.)
