Passing a truck on a highway can be an extremely stressful endeavor. Not only are they intimidating in size, but stories of rollovers, on-ramp collisions, and fatal trucking accidents are enough to scare anyone. Unfortunately, it’s this fear that contributes to drivers making poor errors, careless mistakes, and improper decisions—which can ultimately lead to the same accidents in which they’re trying to avoid.

So what can you do to stay safe on the highway while driving near a truck?

Allowing Room to Prevent a Truck Accident

When approaching a semi-truck, the majority of drivers will attempt to get into the left lane in order to pass the truck which is cruising in the right lane. Although this is prudent in order to distance yourself from the truck—and therefore any potential risk of an accident—if you’re not paying attention to the road around you, your decision to maneuver next to the truck could put you in danger.

The general rule for truckers is that they will stay in the right lane, unless they need to pass a dangerously slow vehicle ahead, or they need to create room for oncoming traffic. If you position yourself within the trucker’s blind spot—especially when approaching a busy on-ramp—he may attempt to move over for the oncoming traffic, without even noticing that you’re there.

Fortunately, you can avoid this type of truck accident by following these four simple rules of driving decency:

  • Pay attention to on-ramp traffic.
  • Gauge whether or not the truck needs to move over to allow on-comers to merge. If so, stay behind the truck until he has passed the on-ramp and has successfully moved back into the right lane.
  • Try not to drive next to a truck when approaching a known on-ramp.
  • When passing a truck, make sure the trucker can see you—never linger in his blind spots.

Getting the Help You Need When Etiquette Fails

It’s a hard truth to bare, but accidents can happen even when you follow the rules and take all the necessary precautions. When this happens, and you or your family become seriously injured, we may be able to help. Don’t allow a truck accident to ruin your future, contact us today for a free consultation and review of your case. We can help you understand your rights, help you file an injury claim, and help you get the compensation your family deserves for their injuries.

Need more information about accident and injury claims? Feel free to browse our truck accident site for first-hand accounts, legal advice, and tips for filing your injury claim.  

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