How to Stay Safe on the Road with Tractor Trailers

Sharing the road with tractor trailers can prove to be a challenge, especially on the busy highways around Atlanta. As an automobile driver, you can only control your individual driving habits. Tractor trailer accidents can be more serious and complex than automobile accidents. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include driver fatigue, overloaded trucks, excessive speeding, or unsafe driving habits of negligent drivers.

As an Atlanta driver, it’s important to practice safe driving habits, especially around tractor trailers. Here are our best tips for staying safe on the road with tractor trailers.

Sharing the Road Safely with Tractor Trailers

1. Tips for Passing a Truck: Always make sure you can see the front of the truck in rear-view mirror before pulling in front. While some people think that it’s a good idea to flash your headlights before changing lines, this really isn’t a universal sign. Not every car or truck driver will understand what this means.
2. Be Aware at All Times: Don’t drive distracted ever, but especially when sharing the road with tractor trailers. Avoid checking your phone, eating, or grooming until you are safely parked and off the road. Stay focused, alert, and avoid driving aggressively, especially in the blind spots of trucks, while driving around tractor trailers.
3. Stay Out of the “No Zone:” You may not realize it, but large trucks have blind spots called “No Zones.” These zones are around the front, back, and sides of a truck. Stay out of the “No-Zones” because the driver could possibly turn into your car if he can’t see you. Remember, if you can’t see the driver, he can’t see you.
4. Don’t Cut Off Truck Drivers: Don’t try to squeeze in front of a truck or cause the driver to come to a sudden stop. Trucks need almost the length of a football field to come to a complete stop.
5. Proper Passing Techniques: The best way to pass a tractor-trailer is to do so as quickly as possible in the left-hand lane. The passenger side of the semi-truck is one big blind zone, so the driver is unlikely to see you. Veer out to the left as far as possible when passing large trucks.

Tractor Trailer Accidents in Atlanta

If you’ve practiced safe driving habits, but have unfortunately been involved in a tractor-trailer accident in Atlanta, GA, it’s important to speak with a reputable personal injury lawyer. Powell and Associates has a proven record of helping victims involved in trucking accidents recover their losses. Trucking accidents can be incredibly complex and it takes a skilled team to hold the responsible party accountable. Call 404-365-7077 or fill out our online contact form to get started.