Tips for Sharing the Road with Semi-Trucks

If you have ever seen the movie, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” then you know how hard it can be to navigate around an 18-wheeler on the highway. Seemingly, many people in Utah have a horror story to share about his or her near-death experience caused by a semi-truck. 

Some of the most severe auto accidents in the state have involved large and in-charge semis. Sharing the road with large trucks can be dangerous and frustrating, but there are ways to keep everyone safe around semi-trucks. 

Going back to the previously mentioned movie, the opening scene entails a family station wagon miraculously making its way underneath a semi-truck. The driver somehow, and rather inaccurately, maintains his speed and navigation skills while carting his wife and kids below the monstrous truck. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble, but this is completely unrealistic, and people in Utah should not try this on interstates.

When driving on a highway, drivers are at a serious disadvantage in auto accidents with larger vehicles, notes the Department of Motor Vehicles. One way to avoid disastrous road mishaps with semi-trucks is to refrain from cutting in front of them. The laws of physics prove that large trucks take much longer to stop in comparison to small cars. When people cut in front of semis, they can cause deadly auto accidents. 

Another way to steer clear of potentially fatal collisions is to make sure your car is visible to truck drivers. Large trucks have bigger blind spots than smaller vehicles. Be aware that semis could unexpectedly turn into smaller cars because of their blind spots. While driving on the roads in Utah, remember that if you cannot see the truck driver, then the truck driver cannot see you. 

Aggressive driving is highly dangerous not only to others on the road, but also especially to 18-wheelers. Putting yourself and others at-risk of destructive auto accidents because of a lack of patience is inconsiderate. Try not to make frequent lane changes and don’t pull in front of semis too quickly. Being stuck behind a line of semis on an uphill slope is annoying to say the least, but unsafe driving can be deadly. 

Finally, all drivers in Utah need to remain alert when operating a vehicle. Inattentive driver can be just as unsafe as aggressive drivers. Pay attention to a semi’s speeds and watch for sudden brake lights. 

Sharing the roads with semi-trucks requires alertness, patience and other safe driving practices. To reduce hazardous truck-related accidents, be courteous to truck drivers and let them do their job safely.

Aubrey Andersen-Bakker is a legal writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Robert J Debry.