10 Tips for Avoiding an Accident with a Truck:

1. Never drive in front of a truck and slow down or apply the brakes abruptly. Trucks require a lot more stopping distance than cars and cannot make evasive lane changes as quickly either. When you apply your brakes, make sure there isn't a truck close behind you as most truck drivers will choose to rear-end you rather than cause a worse accident by swerving into another lane.

2. Never pass a truck on the right hand side. It is illegal to do so in most places and for a good reason. The right sides of most trucks have a large blind spot that can easily obscure a full-sized car. Should a truck driver make a right hand turn or lane change, it won't be until your car is getting crushed that he will realize you are there. This sort of accident is easily preventable by only passing trucks on the left.

3. Always give a truck sufficient time and space to execute a turn. The larger the truck, the more space it needs to complete a turn. Most trucks make wide turns and trying to make the same turn before them can easily cause an accident.

4. Always make it as easy as possible for a truck to pass you. This means moving over into another lane if a truck is coming up behind you. If you cannot or do not wish to match the truck's speed, get out of its way!

Also, when a truck wishes to change into your lane, slow down slightly and flash your high-beams twice to let the truck driver know that they can make the lane change. This gesture is truly appreciated by professional truck drivers. They will almost always do the same for you.

5. Do not tailgate a truck! Drivers of regular cars that rear-end a large truck usually die due to the roof of the car being crushed as the car goes under the truck's strong bumper. This type of accident is easily avoided by not tailgating.

6. Always remember to maintain your car's visibility when near a truck. Your car should always be visible in the mirrors of the truck or the risk of an accident increases dramatically. If you are not in the scope of the truck driver's mirrors, then the driver cannot see you.

7. Use your common sense. The larger vehicle always has the right of way! Do not try to battle a truck for position on any road or street. You and your car will always lose and truck drivers know this. Truck drivers do not appreciate smaller vehicles trying to bully their way past them.

8. Always maintain a distance of a few feet from a truck's rear bumper

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