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How to Stay Safe When Driving Near Large Trucks
If you’ve ever driven next to a big rig on the highway, you know the feeling. It’s hard not to grip the wheel a little tighter when you're beside something that massive. Sharing the road with large trucks can be intimidating—and for good reason. Because of their size and weight, accidents involving trucks tend to cause more serious injuries and property damage than crashes between two smaller vehicles.
While you can’t control how a truck driver behaves behind the wheel, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Let’s go over some practical tips to help you stay safe when you’re driving near large trucks.
4 Key Tips for Driving Safely Around Trucks
The roads are shared spaces, and everyone—whether in a car, on a bike, or behind the wheel of a semi—has a responsibility to drive safely. But driving around trucks requires a little extra care. These four tips, recommended by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), can make a big difference.
1. Stay Out of Blind Spots
You probably already know what a blind spot is—but on a truck, these areas are huge. Truckers have limited visibility around all sides of their vehicle, especially:
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Directly behind the truck
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Just in front of the cab
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Along both sides (with the right side being the worst)
Here’s a good rule of thumb: if you can’t see the truck driver’s face in their mirror, they probably can’t see you either. Passing through blind spots is unavoidable sometimes—but try to do it quickly and safely so you're not in those zones for long.
2. Keep a Safe Distance
Tailgating is always dangerous, but doing it behind a large truck can be especially risky. Not only are you sitting in a blind spot, but you also can’t see what’s happening in traffic ahead of the truck.
Worse yet, if the truck stops suddenly, your car could end up sliding underneath the trailer—a type of crash called an underride collision that can be catastrophic.
Play it safe: leave plenty of space between you and the back of the truck. This also gives you more time to react to sudden changes on the road.
3. Always Pass Trucks on the Left
Passing on the right might feel more convenient in the moment, but it’s riskier when it comes to large trucks. The right side of a truck is its largest blind spot, meaning the driver is much less likely to see you.
Instead, always pass trucks on the left, where visibility is better. Use your turn signal, make sure you have enough space, and don’t linger in the lane beside them. The quicker you can pass safely, the better.
4. Avoid Cutting Off a Truck
Trucks don’t stop like regular cars. Because of their size and weight, it takes them a lot longer to slow down—and they often can’t stop quickly in emergencies.
So if you jump in front of a truck too closely, the driver may not have time to slow down before hitting you. Even if they do, a hard brake could cause the truck to jackknife or lose control.
To stay safe, only merge in front of a truck when you can see the entire cab in your rearview mirror, and give them plenty of room.
Why Are Trucks So Much More Dangerous Than Cars?
Large trucks aren’t just bigger—they behave differently on the road. Here’s why accidents involving trucks can be so serious:
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Massive blind spots: Truck drivers can’t see everything happening around them. It’s up to us as drivers to stay out of their no-zones.
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Longer stopping distances: The heavier the vehicle, the longer it takes to stop. A sudden stop can be deadly if you’re too close.
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Wide turns: Trucks often need extra room to swing left or right. If you’re in their turning path, you could get sideswiped or pinned.
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Driver fatigue: Long hauls and tight deadlines can leave truck drivers exhausted. Fatigue can slow reaction time and impair judgment—just like alcohol.
That’s why giving trucks space, staying alert, and being predictable on the road is so important.
What If a Truck Accident Still Happens?
Even the safest drivers can’t control everything. If you’re involved in a truck accident—even if you were doing everything right—it can leave you shaken, injured, and unsure of what to do next.
At The Fitch Law Firm LLC, we’re here to help you through it. Truck accidents can have life-altering consequences, and we believe you deserve full compensation for the medical bills, lost income, and pain you’ve suffered.
Our experienced attorneys know how to hold trucking companies and their insurers accountable. We’ll investigate your case, build strong evidence, and fight for the justice you deserve—so you can focus on healing.
Let’s Talk—We’re Here When You’re Ready
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you don’t have to go through it alone. Contact The Fitch Law Firm LLC today for a free consultation. We’ll walk you through your options, answer your questions, and guide you through the legal process step by step.
You focus on recovery. We’ll focus on results.
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