How can I avoid a crash with a semi?

Driving near large semis can be an intimidating experience, especially if you drive a smaller vehicle. You may see these enormous trucks stray from their lane or even sway in the wind, leaving you to wonder how safe it is to share a road with them.

One of the dangers of getting in an accident with a semi is their sheer size. A collision that would be a minor fender-bender between average-sized cars can quickly become deadly with a semi.

Here are a few ways you can make sure semi-drivers can see you so you can avoid an accident.

Safe space for stopping

While you may realize that a semi takes longer to stop, you may not know how long their stopping distance is compared to an average car. Typically, a semi will need nearly twice as much time to stop as a typical car. In some cases, a semi carrying a heavy or awkward load may need more time to stop or make other maneuvers.

Ensuring you are visible

With large semi-trucks come large blind spots. Accidents often occur because the semi driver could not see a small vehicle following closely behind or directly along one side of a semi.

When trying to pass a semi, it is essential to ensure you can complete the process quickly. The longer you are next to the semi, the greater the chance the driver will not be able to see you when they need to change lanes.

You should also use caution when you are driving behind a semi. Rather than the traditional three-second rule for maintaining a safe following distance, you may want to allow more space to avoid rear-ending the truck.

While commercial drivers have extensive training to be safe on the road, you can help them be safer by staying visible and ensuring plenty of room to stop their trucks.