Seeing lots of semi-trucks on American highways is a sign of a strong economy. Likewise, buses full of people indicate that people are going on vacation or heading off to work. However, driving around these giant vehicles may be very intimidating, particularly for newer drivers.
Fortunately, there are some safety tips you can keep in mind for driving around large commercial vehicles. These tips include being aware of the larger blind spots that commercial vehicles have and also understanding their higher amount of mass.
Why do blind spots matter?
Driving in the blind spot of any vehicle is a bad idea, whether it is a giant oil tanker or a small speeding motorcycle. However, the blind spots of commercial vehicles tend to be a lot larger than those of smaller ones.
The main thing to keep in mind is that you should always pass a commercial vehicle on the left. This is because the blind spot on the right side of a commercial vehicle can take up to two lanes of traffic. It is always a good idea to pass on the left anyway, but with commercial vehicles it is even more important.
What about mass?
Unsurprisingly, the size of commercial vehicles makes them much heavier and more difficult for the driver to operate. This is why giving a commercial vehicle as much space as you can is smart. If something happens, the commercial vehicle will take longer to stop than almost any other kind of vehicle. You want them to have plenty of time to do this, particularly if they are behind you.
