Truck accidents are real but we just don’t know when one can happen. Reports show that in the US, about 500,000 trucking accidents occur every year and these involve semi trucks also known as big rigs or 18-wheelers. Such road mishaps result in around 5,000 deaths per year.

That said, make sure your vehicle is roadworthy at all times. Nonetheless, if you deem your used truck to be ‘unfit’ for business, you may now lay it to rest and get yourself a good substitute. You can find good deals on a semi for sale at dealers you can trust.

Experts say that crashes are preventable and yet based on reports from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), driver error is oftentimes the major cause of 88% of truck-related crashes. This only goes to show that humans are more likely to cause harm to themselves while driving those 18-wheelers than do machine failure.

As observed by professionals, the most common causes of disasters on the road involving big rigs are reckless driving or over-speeding, failure in checking blind spots prior to switching lanes, and last but not the least, driver confusion that leads to error in driving. So, you see, it’s important for truck drivers to be cautious every time they’re out on the road. And for that, here are tips from the experts so that you can stay away from truck accidents.

How to Prevent Truck Accidents: 3 Tips

1. Obey traffic rules at all times

Motorists and drivers can prevent vehicular accidents from happening if only they know how to follow the rules. It’s not only your life you’re putting at risk but also that of your helper or assistant traveling along if you utterly disregard these rules established particularly for truckers traversing the open highways or the congested city streets. Aside from the road signs and the rules stipulated by the State, there are also regulations for:

  • the number of hours a trucker sits behind the wheels
  • the total number of breaks a driver makes, and
  • the average hours needed for drivers to lie down and rest.

Hence, if you feel sleepy or extremely exhausted from a long haul, you need to stop and sleep, otherwise, your life would be in jeopardy.

2. Drive very slow in poor weather conditions

There could be no better way of steering clear of accidents than by driving slowly and cautiously when visibility is poor resulting from windy, foggy and snowy weather. Inclement weather should remind truckers to slow down especially when taking a turn as 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers are more complex to operate and handle, unlike regular and smaller vehicles.

As huge as they are, big rigs need more time and space when slowing down as these are prone to abrupt swaying in massive windy conditions. That said, when there are other heavy vehicles on the road, you need to maintain space. Remember that speed is almost always a main factor in accidents that are preventable.

3. Keep proper distance all the time

When following any type of vehicle on the road, always observe a safe distance. Driving aggressively or even attempting to pull off an unsafe maneuver can result in accidents that are avoidable in the first place.

Your safety depends on how you behave as a trucker. Be responsible and alert behind the wheel.