It takes a considerable amount of skill to operate any vehicle safely. Even more skill is required to drive large commercial vehicles.
Truck driving is both a highly skilled profession and vital to the economy. The majority of truck drivers take their duties seriously and operate as safely as possible. Unfortunately, due to the unique challenges of driving a larger vehicle, accidents can still occur.
Why is truck driving so challenging?
Blind spots
Visibility is one of the most challenging aspects of driving a large vehicle. All vehicles have blind spots, but these are accentuated in commercial trucks. When a truck is loaded with cargo, its driver will basically have no view directly behind the vehicle. The area to the passenger’s side will also be restricted. What this means is that truck drivers need to be especially careful when changing lanes, turning and slowing down. Before making any of these maneuvers, it is vital that truck drivers check their mirrors multiple times.
Longer stopping distances
Naturally, commercial vehicles are much heavier than standard cars. As such, they take longer to slow down. Stepping on the brakes in a truck does not have the same impact as it does in a car. It can take a fully loaded truck traveling at the speed limit up to quarter of a mile to come to a complete stop.
If you have been injured in any kind of truck accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Seek legal guidance to discover more about your rights and options accordingly.
