When you share the road with a variety of different types of vehicles, you may encounter situations that are unsafe.
A large truck pulling up alongside you or trying to overtake you while driving could be one of those situations. Understanding why a truck’s size can influence a vehicle crash’s intensity is essential.
Different ways of turning
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the turning radius for trucks is different than it is for cars. This means that a larger vehicle with potentially heavy items in the bed of it cannot stop as quickly and usually takes more space to turn on the road.
Truckers should take into account this difference, since many may pick up distractions like their phone or food instead of keeping their full attention on cars around them.
Higher seats
Since truck drivers sit up higher in their vehicles than people in cars do, they do not have the same vantage point for looking at other people on the road. This difference in visibility means a trucker could hit another vehicle if they do not check their blind spots regularly and account for smaller cars around them.
Greater weight and impact
If a car and a truck are both traveling at the same speed on the highway, the truck will likely damage the car more in the event of a crash. Trucks also are more likely to roll over or flip after skidding when an accident happens.
The size and momentum of a truck can make it hard for drivers to stop as quickly as cars. Since truckers know this information, they should make sure to avoid driving recklessly.