The following material is copyrighted by Motorcycle News, June 2008 and appears on motorcyclecruiser.com . If you're a biker, you know that trucks can be your mortal enemies. Semis, pickups flatbeds - it doesn't seem to matter. It's just the mechanics of the things; they're so long and wide, they can't see and react to smaller and faster motorcyclists very easily. We got hold of a set of safety guidelines for motorists, compiled by the American Trucking Associations (who had a small demonstration at Americade this year).
Check out the helpful information:
Many drivers are often confused about how to safely share the road with trucks. 70 to 75 percent of all truck-related auto fatalities are caused by car drivers, according to AAA and the Department of Transportation. Safe highway merging and stopping distances are essential for highway driving.
Never cut in front of a truck - Fully loaded trucks weigh up to 80,000 pounds and take the length of a football field to stop. Most cars weigh only 3,000 pounds.
Don't linger alongside a truck - There are large blind spots around trucks where cars momentarily "disappear" from view and the truck driver can't see you.
Pass trucks quickly - To make themselves visible cars should not linger near trucks, and should move past them or slow down to back off, out of the blind spot.
Changing lanes - Change lanes when you can see both of the truck's headlights in your rearview mirror.
If possible, pass a truck on the left, not on the right - A truck's blind spot on the right runs the length of the trailer and extends out 3 lanes.
Motorists should try to avoid passing through this large blind spot.
Keep a safety cushion around trucks - Try to leave a 10-car length safety cushion in front of a truck and stay back 20-25 car lengths. Following a truck too closely obscures your view.
Check the truck's mirrors - If you're following a truck and you can't see the driver's face in the truck's side mirrors, the truck driver can't see you.
Allow trucks adequate space to maneuver - Trucks make wide turns at intersections and require additional lanes to turn, so *motorists should allow a truck the space it needs to maneuver.
Nancy Kwiecien
GWRRA Spring, Texas Chapter M-2 Chapter Educator