Being involved in any sort of motor vehicle accident can be traumatic. However, getting into an accident with a semi-truck when you are in a commuter car is even more dangerous. It is vital that you understand proper driving procedures when you are around a semi truck. According to Safer America, truck accidents are involved in 10% of all fatal accidents involving motor vehicles each year, so it is important to understand best practices for sharing the road with them.
The biggest tip to remember is to leave plenty of room between yourself and a semi truck. A semi truck can carry between 12,000 and 80,000 pounds in weight. This means that no matter how new or well-maintained the brakes are on the truck, it is unlikely it will be able to stop very quickly. Keep this in mind when you are merging on the highway at top speed and surrounded by semi trucks.
You should also never pass a truck on the right hand side. This is actually illegal in many jurisdictions due to how dangerous it is. The biggest blind spot a truck driver will have is on the right side of the truck, owing to how the driver sits on the left side. Thus, when approaching a semi truck to pass, you should always pass on the left.
Finally, you should never assume that a semi truck driver can see you just because you can see them. A good rule of thumb is to remember that if you cannot see the mirrors of the semi truck, it is unlikely the driver knows exactly where you are. This means you should never follow close behind a semi truck.