Many different types of vehicles travel the Maryland roadways. From classic cars to futuristic self-driving vehicles, you likely see all kinds during your time on the road. Among the most ubiquitous vehicles that people encounter on roadways are large commercial trucks.
You may worry about the outcomes of a truck accident any time you see an 18-wheeler near you. So far, you have been fortunate enough to never be involved in a crash with a big rig, but you know it is not out of the realm of possibility. As a result, you do your best to avoid taking unnecessary risks around trucks — or at least you think you do.
Have you committed a trucker pet peeve?
Though you may constantly have tractor-trailer fear on your mind whenever you see them on the roads, remember that the majority of truck drivers do their best to drive safely. They also have smaller passenger vehicles on their minds while making their long-haul trips. Though they do not wish to cause harm to anyone on the road, truck drivers have a few pet peeves that passenger vehicle drivers commit that make it harder to stay safe, such as:
- Tailgating: Driving too closely to a truck trailer means that the truck driver likely cannot see you. It also increases the chances of a rear-end collision if the truck must stop unexpectedly.
- Road rage: Big rigs often drive at slower speeds that some people may not appreciate, but if a driver experiences road rage and attempts to speed up and pass a large truck in an unsafe way, an accident could take place.
- Blocking the flow of traffic: Though most big rigs stay out of the fast lane on highways, it can be detrimental for a passenger vehicle in the fast lane to keep pace with a slower truck. This action can cause traffic back up and possibly result in a crash.
- Cutting off trucks: Some drivers may think that if they can get ahead of a truck at the next traffic light then they will not be stuck behind it any longer. However, speeding ahead of a truck and cutting the driver off at a red light can make it difficult for the truck driver to stop in time.
Of course, these are not all the actions that many passenger vehicle drivers take that annoy truck drivers and put themselves and others in danger. If you have done any of these, you will certainly want to avoid them in the future. Still, if a truck driver does not keep safety in mind and an accident results in your injuries, you may want to keep your legal options in mind.
