As motorists, we have all experienced either being stuck behind a truck or trying to overtake one. It can be quite stressful to overtake these ‘giants’ on wheels as they can appear quite intimidating. Trucks frequently travel along national highways such as the N2 and N3, transporting goods inland from the coast. Unfortunately, motorists share the same routes, especially when going on holiday. Read on further about the steps you can take to make sure you safely share roads with trucks.1
Be aware of a truck’s blind spots
Truck drivers experience blind spots on both sides of their trucks and behind them. You should move through those spots as quickly as possible to be safe. 1
What about overtaking a truck?
An average-size truck can be almost three times longer than an average-size car. So, you’ll take considerably more time overtaking a truck than a car. Ideally, you want to spend as little time as possible in an oncoming traffic lane, so when overtaking, you must travel as fast as possible within legal limits. Before overtaking, make sure that the road ahead is clear of oncoming traffic and that over-taking is permitted. Remember to use your indicator to show other drivers your intentions. 1
What to do when a truck wants to overtake your car
It’s best to slow down on the left side of the road, so that it does not stay too long in the oncoming traffic lane. 1
Maintaining a safe distance
Always keep a safe travelling distance behind or in front of a truck to reduce the risk of an accident. Goods may fall off a truck directly into your path or the truck may stop abruptly.1
Trucks need to make wide turns
Give a truck considerable space when turning. Don’t try to sneak past the truck through a gap between the turning truck and the kerb. 1
Don’t blind the truck driver
When behind a truck or overtaking one, dim your car’s lights to avoid blinding the truck driver via its side mirrors. 1
Avoid overtaking in bad weather
Bad weather increases the risk of crashing when trying to pass a truck. Keep your distance when following a truck in the rain because the immense amount of spray produced drastically reduces visibility. Your car or the truck could start to aquaplane and thus lose control. If you must overtake, make sure the wipers can cope with the extra load of water crashing onto your car’s windscreen. 1
Be patient
Exercise patience and practice defensive driving by staying alert to everything around you. This is how an excellent driver should behave. Events can quickly spiral out of control if your driving triggers road rage. 1
Safety first
You and your passengers must fasten safety belts before starting a journey. Not only is this a legal requirement but wearing safety belts saves lives. 1
Disclaimer
The purpose of this article is to show how you can safely share the roads with trucks. 1
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Source:
1https://www.ecr.co.za/shows/stacey-jsbu/kzn-how-stay-safe-when-road-heavy-vehicles/
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.
