Commentary

Big Rigs

Make room for big rigs

Large trucks play a critical role in the nation's economy. Their numbers on our highways continue to increase. They also require special consideration from other drivers.

It's common sense that a passenger car or SUV stands little chance in a collision with a 40-ton fully loaded big rig, or even a 15-ton empty one. Add to this the natural constraints on a big rig's ability to make rapid changes in speed or direction, and the message is plain: when sharing the road with a big rig, give it lots of room.

Avoiding the "no-zone"

The driver of a big rig has four blind spots or "no-zones."

The front no-zone is 10 to 20 feet in front of the cab. Never cut directly in front of a truck. Wait until you can see its headlights or front grille in your rearview mirror and, of course, always use your indicator.

The rear no-zone extends 200 feet behind—that's two-thirds the length of a football field. As a rule of thumb, stay at least four seconds back.

Large blind spots, much larger than a car driver's, also extend down both sides of the truck. Don't drive beside a truck if you can avoid it.

Extra caution on hills

As every mountain driver knows, trucks often can't keep pace with other traffic when climbing hills. If traffic stops on an incline, leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the back of a truck, in case the truck rolls back when its driver releases the brake.

The time for greatest caution, however, is on the downward slope. Keep checking your rearview mirror—a truck gaining on you could be a runaway. Get out of its way.

"Why doesn't he pass?"

To pass another vehicle at highway speeds, a big rig typically needs a 700-foot gap—nearly three football fields. As the truck passes, slow down slightly to get out of its blind spot faster. Keep both hands on the wheel in case the truck creates a wind gust.

In many areas, on highways with three or more lanes going in the same direction, big rigs are banned from the far left lane. If you're in the center lane and a truck is camped out on your bumper, despite apparently having room to pass, this may be the reason. Pull over to the right.

Don't cut corners

Trucks make wide right turns, and one may appear to be going straight ahead or turning left when it's really preparing to turn right. Truck drivers can't see cars squeezing around a corner between them and the curb, so don't take a chance—watch the turn signals and stay put.

By understanding the limitations of other vehicles around them, responsible drivers can enhance safety for all road users.