ATLANTA, GEORGIA — As National Truck Driver Appreciation Week continues, a longtime trucker and safety advocate says one of the best ways motorists can honor professional drivers is simple: learn how to share the road with them.
Herschel Evans, who has spent nearly 40 years behind the wheel, said many crashes involving semi-trucks stem not from trucker error but from smaller vehicle drivers underestimating the unique challenges big rigs present.
Blind spots are one of the biggest concerns. Evans said tractor-trailers have large blind spots on all four sides, with the right side being the largest. “It can be three lanes wide and as long as the entire truck,” he said. His advice for knowing whether you are visible to a trucker is straightforward. “One of the best ways you can ensure you’re not in a truck’s blind spot is to look for the mirrors on the side of the truck and see if you can see that driver’s smiling face in those mirrors,” Evans said. Front blind spots can extend 15 to 20 feet ahead of the cab, particularly in slow-moving traffic.
Stopping distance is the other critical factor drivers tend to underestimate. At highway speeds, a loaded tractor-trailer can require more than 130 yards — longer than a football field — to come to a complete stop. Cutting in front of a truck or tailgating one leaves little margin for error if traffic suddenly slows, and tailgating also severely limits a driver’s forward visibility.
Evans recommends all motorists avoid lingering in a truck’s blind spots, pass trucks efficiently and safely, use extra caution when merging in front of a truck, avoid tailgating, and stay focused with minimal distractions. His underlying message is one shared by everyone on the road: everyone wants to get home safely.
Interviews courtesy of local media.
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