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by Rozemarie

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Advice from a Retired Truck Driver

In maritime law, the smaller, more maneuverable vehicle must give way to the larger, less agile vehicle. If we were to adhere to this law when driving on our highways, the accident rates between large commercial trucks and smaller vehicles would be reduced. In spite of the extensive preventive maintenance procedures followed by trucking companies and the diligent training of professional drivers, preventable accidents between trucks and smaller vehicles continue to happen. Here are ten safety measures you can observe while traveling in the vicinity of tractor-trailers that will ensure you will be neither the cause nor the victim of one of these accidents.

1. Give the truck room at all times. Do not tailgate. The size of the truck completely blocks your view so you must rely on the trailer tail light signals rather than your own forward vision to let you know if something dangerous is about to happen on the road in front of you. If you cannot see the truck driver in one of the large side mirrors, the truck driver cannot see you. The area directly behind the trailer is a blind spot for the driver and a danger zone for you.

2. When you come to a stop behind the truck, try to keep to the left of your lane so the driver can see you, and always leave room behind the truck to account for rollback. Starting from stop, a truck with a heavy load can roll back slightly when the driver moves his or her foot off the brake to depress the accelerator and release the clutch (an operation that requires both feet) before it begins to move forward.

3. In a passing situation, try to anticipate the flow of traffic before you pass so that you do not need to slow down after you pull in, then make sure you can see both of the truck's headlights in your rear-view mirror before you pull back into the lane in front of the truck. At 100 km/hr, a truck takes seven times longer than your vehicle to come to a complete stop. If you are in the safety cushion that professional drivers try to leave between the front of the truck and the vehicle being followed, the driver might not be able to avoid hitting you if an emergency stop is required. Also remember that trucks create wind gusts so keep both hands on the wheel to keep your vehicle from drifting until you are all the way past; in inclement weather, the wheels throw out spray that your windshield wipers may not be able to clear quickly and thus obscure your vision. While traveling beside the truck, you pass through a blind spot on the left and cannot be seen; if the driver needs to maneuver to meet an emergency or to avoid debris on the road, you will be in the way. If the truck hits the debris, it could flip out from under the wheels of the truck right into your vehicle. If one of the truck's eighteen tires blows out while you are alongside, your vehicle is in a vulnerable position. Pass the truck and get on. On the other hand, when a truck is passing you, do not speed up. Adjust your speed slightly to allow the truck to complete the pass as quickly as possible.

4. In high traffic, slow moving situations, if you see a gap between the truck and the vehicle in front of it, do not pull into it. Again, that is the truck driver's safety cushion. This is another danger zone for you and a blind spot for the driver, since small vehicles cannot be seen over the truck's large hood when the smaller vehicle is positioned immediately in front of the truck. Also, stopping and starting a heavy truck is hard on the equipment and on the driver; in slow moving traffic, truck drivers try to maintain a slow, steady pace to avoid the constant stopping and starting. Pulling into this cushion of space directly in front of the truck doesn't get you moving any quicker, and it often causes more congestion when the truck must stop to avoid hitting you.

5. Trucks are larger and heavier than your automobile which makes them less maneuverable. They have as many as eighteen gears forward and take much longer to reach the traffic flow speed. When approaching an upgrade, you might see a truck speed up in order to get a run at the grade. This is done so as not to obstruct traffic by slowing too quickly before reaching the summit. Do not assume the driver is racing with you. That driver is trying to get up the hill with a minimum of traffic disruption. The safest and most courteous action for you is to pass quickly and be on your way. If traffic necessitates your following the truck up the hill, try not to be stressed and remember the truck is not deliberately trying to hold you up.

6. When entering onto a multi-lane highway and a truck has moved into the left lane to allow you to merge smoothly, do not run along in the right lane beside the truck wondering why it does not speed up and pass you. Chances are that truck's engine is governed not to exceed the 100/kph speed limits on our Ontario highways. It is up to you to adjust your speed and move out of the way as quickly as possible so the truck can return to the right lane. On major highways in Ontario, tractor-trailers are allowed to drive only in the two right lanes. If you are traveling in the center or second from the right lane be sure you are moving at the posted speed limit. Remember this is the truck's passing lane.

7. Always be aware of traffic around you; when stopping at an intersection be sure to stop behind the painted guideline at the intersection. The trailer of a semi unit making a left turn towards you can track right over the front of your vehicle if you are too far forward. If you see that the trailer tandems are not going to clear the front of your vehicle and the driver has stopped, that driver is waiting for you to back up so he or she can complete the turn. It is up to you to get out of the way.

8. Always watch for the truck's turn signals. When a truck makes a right turn it is often necessary for the driver to veer to the left in order to complete the turn without the trailer wheels running over the curb. This maneuver creates a narrow temporary lane to the right. Never try to use this space to pass on the right. You will be in the blind spot and cannot be seen by the driver which places your vehicle in danger of being squeezed between the trailer tandems and the curb when the trailer tracks around through this space.

9. Directly behind, directly in front, and on both sides of the truck in the area from the rear tractor tandems (sets of double wheels) to the steering tires at the front of the truck are blind spots where the driver cannot see you. Remember if you cannot see the driver in one of the large side mirrors on the truck, that driver cannot see you. Never travel in theses areas any longer than is necessary to get by the truck.

10. Whether you are in your vehicle or on foot, do not cross behind a truck preparing to back up and never duck under the trailer; always go around.


Trucks are a necessity in our modern society and a fact of life on our highways; drivers of smaller vehicles can help to prevent accidents by remembering to follow two principles: always make sure you are visible and give them plenty of room.

Learn more about this author, Rozemarie.

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