TIPS FOR SAFE SUMMER DRIVING

Summer isn’t over yet, and many people are still hitting the roads to take advantage of warm weather and good road conditions. If you are planning a road trip, it is important to watch out for other motorists, including tractor-trailers. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, approximately 4,000 people died in collisions involving a tractor-trailer in 2012 alone. Whereas a typical passenger car weighs between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds, a tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. The sheer size and weight of these massive vehicles makes them particularly dangerous in a crash.

Whether you are driving cross-country or embarking on a local weekend getaway, stay safe behind the wheel by following a few highway safety tips.

Avoid Tractor-Trailer Blind Spots

Semi-trucks have several large blind spots. Also known as “no-zones”, these blind spots are located in the back, front, and on each side of a tractor-trailer. In general, if you can’t see the truck driver’s face, the truck driver can’t see your vehicle. Avoid lingering next to a semi for long periods of time, as you might end up in the truck’s side blind spot or no-zone. If the truck is pushed sideways by a gust of wind – or the driver attempts to change lanes because he doesn’t see you – your vehicle could be pushed off the road or crushed.

Do Not Follow a Semi Too Closely

Semi-truck trailers are large, and they obscure the environment around them. If you tailgate a tractor-trailer, you may not have enough time to react to a situation in the road up ahead, such as an accident, construction, or debris blocking the road. If your vehicle slams into the back of a commercial trailer, you could end up with serious or even fatal injuries.

Do Not Cut in Front of a Tractor-Trailer

According to the Utah Department of Transportation’s Truck Smart statistics website, an average tractor-trailer requires approximately 525 feet to stop, which is the length of about two football fields. A motorist in a standard passenger vehicle who suddenly cuts in front of a semi risks his life if that truck suddenly needs to stop.

Massachusetts Personal Injury Lawyers

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident or a collision involving a tractor-trailer, call the personal injury attorneys at Joel H. Schwartz. P.C. today at (617) 742-1170 to discuss your case.

This website has been prepared by Joel H. Schwartz, P.C. for informational purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice from an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.