Did you know that each year there are approximately 250,000 accidents involving passenger vehicles and big rigs? While the majority of those instances (70%) fall under the fault of car drivers, there are certain safety tips that both parties should be aware of. Not only can these tips help you avoid becoming a part of the above statistic, but they could actually save lives. Let’s take a look at how Nashville truck drivers and passenger vehicle drivers can share the road safely.
5. BE AWARE OF
YOUR BLIND SPOTS
DESPITE THE WARNINGS THAT ARE PLASTERED ALL OVER THE TRUCK, MANY
PASSENGER VEHICLE OPERATORS MAY STILL NOT BE AWARE OF THE AREAS
AROUND A TRUCK WHERE THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE THEM.
SAFETY TIP #1
6. KEEP AT OR UNDER
THE SPEED LIMIT
REGARDLESS OF THE PRESSURES PLACED ON YOU TO MAKE TIMELY
DELIVERIES, MAINTAINING A SAFE SPEED AT ALL TIMES IS CRITICAL.
SAFETY TIP #2
7. MAINTAIN YOUR
TRUCK
CONDUCTING A QUICK INSPECTION OF YOUR TRUCK PRIOR TO HITTING THE ROAD
CAN DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THE CHANCES OF A POTENTIAL INCIDENT WHILE
DRIVING.
SAFETY TIP #3
8. TAKE CARE OF YOU
GET ENOUGH SLEEP, EAT WELL AND SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR LOVED
ONES. AS A RESULT, YOU’LL BE HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER, WHICH WILL MAKE YOU
A MUCH SAFER DRIVER.
SAFETY TIP #4
10. NEVER TAILGATE
LARGE TRUCKS HAVE MULTIPLE BLIND SPOTS, AND IF YOU’RE FOLLOWING TOO
CLOSELY AND THE DRIVER HAS TO STOP FAST, HE OR SHE WON’T BE ABLE TO
ACCOUNT FOR YOUR VEHICLE AND YOU COULD END UP IN A SERIOUS CRASH.
SAFETY TIP #1
11. PASS WITH
CAUTION
IF YOU MUST PASS A LARGE TRUCK, DO SO ON THE LEFT SIDE WHILE
MAINTAINING A SAFE, STEADY SPEED. MAKE SURE THE CAB OF THE TRUCK IS
FULLY VISIBLE IN YOUR REAR-VIEW MIRROR PRIOR TO PULLING IN FRONT.
SAFETY TIP #2
12. PROVIDE PLENTY
OF ROOM
REMEMBER THAT LARGE TRUCKS REQUIRE AMPLE SPACE TO MANEUVER. TO
AVOID AN ACCIDENT, ALWAYS ALLOW ADEQUATE SPACE, PARTICULARLY WHEN A
TRUCK DRIVER IS ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP, MAKE A TURN OR PASS YOUR
VEHICLE.
SAFETY TIP #3
13. ARE YOU BEING SAFE
ENOUGH ON THE ROAD?
IF YOU ARE GUILTY OF VIOLATING ANY OF THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, WHICH
ONE(S)? AN HONEST ASSESSMENT OF YOUR OWN DRIVING HABITS CAN HELP
YOU BECOME SAFER, MORE RESPONSIBLE ON THE ROAD.