Helpful Driving Information

TRUCKS

To drive safely in the presence of large trucks and avoid collisions, you must be familiar with their physical capabilities and maneuvers.

BRAKING

Large trucks take longer to stop than a car traveling at the same speed. Don't pull in front of a large truck and suddenly slow down or stop. The trucker will not be able to stop quickly enough to avoid colliding into you.

TURNING

For all turning vehicles, the rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels. The longer the vehicle, the greater the difference. This is why truck drivers must often swing wide to complete a right turn. When you follow a truck, look at its turn signals before you start to pass. If you think the truck is turning left, wait a second and check the turn signals again. The driver may actually be turning right.

TURNING

Large commercial truck and bus drivers sometimes need to swing wide to the right to safely make a left turn. They cannot see cars directly behind or beside them. Trying to squeeze in between the commercial vehicle and the curb is an invitation to disaster!

BLIND SPOTS

Passenger vehicle drivers falsely assume that truckers can see the road better because they are higher off the ground. While truckers do have a better forward view and bigger mirrors, they still have serious blind spots in which your vehicle can get lost.
These blind spot areas include: directly in front, directly behind and along each side—especially on the right side.

BLIND SPOTS

If you cannot see the truck drivers reflection in his or her side mirror, you are in the truck drivers blind spot and they cannot see you. If you stay in those blind spots, you block the trucker's ability to take evasive action to avoid a dangerous situation.

BLIND SPOTS

A truck’s blind spots are called No Zones. A No Zone is the area around the trucks where your car is no longer visible or you are so close that the truck can’t stop or maneuver safely. In both cases, when you are in a No Zone you are in much greater danger of getting into a collision.

MANEUVERABILITY

Trucks are designed to transport cargo and are not as maneuverable as passenger vehicles.
Large trucks have longer stopping and starting distances. They take more space for turns and weigh more. On multi-lane highways and freeways, large trucks usually stay in the center portion of the lane to help the flow of traffic. This also increases the trucker's options in case he or she must change lanes to avoid a hazard.

PASSING

It is extremely dangerous to cut off a truck in traffic or on the highway whether you are trying to reach your exit or turn or beat a truck to a single-lane construction zone.
Slow down and take your turn, it will only take you a few extra seconds.

PASSING

Never linger alongside a truck when passing. Always pass a large truck on the left side, and after you have passed, move ahead of it. If you linger beside the truck, you make it difficult, if not impossible, for the trucker to see you and take evasive action without hitting your vehicle, should an obstacle appear in the road ahead.

TRUCKS

Don’t follow too closely or tailgate trucks. When you follow behind a truck and you cannot see the truck drivers side view mirrors, the trucker has no way of knowing you are there. Tailgating a truck, or any vehicle, is dangerous because you take away your own cushion of safety. Where will you go when the vehicle in front of you stops suddenly?

TRUCKS

It is easy and extremely dangerous to underestimate the size and speed of an approaching tractor-trailer. A large tractor-trailer often appears to be traveling at a slower speed because of its large size. Many passenger vehicles/large truck collisions take place at intersections because the vehicle driver did not realize how close the truck was or how quickly it was traveling.

BUSES AND STREETCARS

When driving behind a bus, increase your following distance to get a better view. Expect the bus to stop at its designated curbside bus stops to pick up or drop off passengers. Be careful when passing a stopped bus. Don't pass on the right side.

BUSES AND STREETCARS

Do not drive through a safety zone, a space set aside for pedestrians and marked by raised buttons or white markers on a roadway. When people are boarding or leaving a streetcar where there is no safety zone, stop behind the nearest door or vehicle platform and wait until the people have reached a safe place.
It is also recommended for your safety that you do not overtake or pass on the left of any interurban train or streetcar, whether it is moving or standing.

BUSES AND STREETCARS

As a new driver, you must learn school bus safety rules and obey the school bus warning system that protects children and makes school bus transportation safe.

SCHOOL BUSES

When you come upon a stopped bus stop behind the bus and remain stopped as long as the red lights are flashing. You will be fined if you fail to stop behind a stopped bus which is unloading children.

SCHOOL BUSES

Always prepare to stop when lights are flashing. Wait for the vehicle to move and scan before starting your drive again.

EMERGENCY VEHICLES

You must yield the right-of-way to a police car, fire engine, ambulance, or other emergency vehicle that uses a siren and flashing lights. Pull as close to the right of the road as possible and stop until the emergency vehicle(s) has passed. However, don't stop in an intersection. Continue through the intersection and then pull to the right as soon as you can. Sometimes emergency vehicles will use the wrong side of the street to continue on their way.