If you are like many Floridians, you may develop anxiety anytime you share the road with large commercial vehicles. While there is only so much you can do when truck and bus drivers choose to drive under the influence or while distracted, there are some steps you can take to reduce your chances of an accident.
For example, to minimize your risk of suffering a serious injury following a Florida truck crash, consider taking the following steps.
Stay alert
Just as distracted truck and bus drivers endanger you and other motorists on the roadway, you also endanger yourself by allowing yourself to become distracted. It may be easier for you to avoid a Florida truck crash while driving in a passenger car than it is for a truck or bus driver at the wheel of a much larger, heavier vehicle, as well as avoiding eating, talking on the phone, using navigation devices and other actions that take your attention away from the immediate task at hand.
Avoid no-zones
Just as you have blind spots that make it hard to see certain areas around your car, truck and bus drivers have them, too, and they are often larger for commercial vehicles than they are for standard passenger cars. The areas directly in front of, behind and on either side of trucks and buses are no-zones. If you are not sure whether you are traveling within one, look at the side mirrors of the truck or bus. If you cannot see the driver, assume that he or she cannot see you, either.
Avoid cutting them off
Cutting large trucks or buses off or not leaving enough room for them to stop is generally avoidable, and doing so can save your life and prevent a Florida truck crash. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that large commercial vehicles take about 40 percent longer to come to a stop than traditional, passenger vehicles, so never assume that a truck or bus driver has enough time to stop for you should you decide to try and move in front of one from one side or the other.
These are just some of the ways you can help avoid a Florida truck crash when sharing the road with large trucks. Stay vigilant and remember that these vehicles are quite different than your own to improve your own safety as well as that of others on the roadway.
