Additional motorists during this time of year can lead to dangerous situations, especially since many of the additional drivers on the roads during the holiday season are big rigs and tractor trailers making deliveries to customers and stores. These larger vehicles have more blind spots and some passenger car drivers may not be used to driving around larger trucks, making for a potentially hazardous combination.
To stay safe when sharing the road with commercial trucks, make sure that you:
1) Obey the speed limit.
Speeding can increase your chances of an accident by making it harder for you to stop in time to avoid a crash. If you are in a collision, speed can make your accident much worse and can lead to more serious injuries by increasing the impact of the crash.
2) Buckle up.
Buckling your seatbelt is still one of the most effective ways to prevent an injury in a truck accident in Homestead or your community. A seatbelt keeps you in place in the event of a crash, ensuring you are not thrown from your vehicle.
3) Stay out of truck blind spots.
If you are following a truck, make sure to leave plenty of room in front of you. This not only reduces the risk that you are in the truck’s blind spot, but also ensures you have enough room to stop safely if the truck makes an unexpected stop. It also ensures that the truck isn’t splashing your windshield in wet weather. Similarly, don’t drift along the sides of a truck. If you can’t see the truck driver in their mirrors, the driver can’t see you and that can be dangerous if the driver needs to change lanes suddenly.
4) Be smart about stopping distances.
Stopping distance collisions in Homestead and other Florida cities often happen because drivers are not aware that tractor trailers and big rigs take longer to stop. Never cut in front of a truck or slow down so that a truck is right behind you. If you need to brake suddenly, the truck may not be able to stop in time to prevent a collision.
5) Keep your car in good condition.
Make sure that your tires have good treads that grip the road surface properly and allow you to brake correctly. Keep your tires correctly inflated. Check brakes regularly to make sure they can stop quickly if you need to act fast to avoid an accident. Check fluids, wipers, cooling, and radiator systems regularly to ensure that mechanical failure doesn’t leave you stranded or your car hard to manage.
6) Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.
Trying to rush will make you distracted and can lead to road rage or mistakes. Leave early so that you can stay calm and focused, even if bad traffic or bad weather affects your trip.
7) Know your exit names and numbers.
Plan your route ahead of time so that you know where you are going. This ensures you can focus on driving and not on trying to decide where you are supposed to go. Knowing your exit names and numbers also ensures you don’t have to try to cut across multiple lanes to get to your exit.
Have you been injured by a reckless driver? Contact the law firm of Flaxman Law Group to schedule a free case review. You may have legal options you have not considered for getting fair compensation for your injuries.