Road safety
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Do not merge in front of a semi-truck until you can see its full windshield or cab in your rearview mirror, allowing the driver time to react.
Semi-trucks require a lot of distance to stop.
3 people, independently
- Do not merge in front of a truck that is already braking to stop.1
Flash your headlights once after a semi passes you on a two-lane road to signal clearance.
It informs the driver they have space to return to the lane.
- Cut lights at night instead of flashing to avoid blinding the driver.
one person who lived it
Keep a safe distance from U-Haul trucks and rental campers.
Drivers often lack experience with large vehicles, and the vehicles may be poorly maintained.
4 people, independently
- Presume drivers of U-Hauls and rental trucks lack experience with large vehicles; allow them ample room and avoid their blind spots.3
- Drive defensively around U-Haul and Penske trucks, assuming drivers may be inexperienced with large vehicles at highway speeds.1
Check your spare tire pressure every six months.
Most people have a flat spare and do not know it because they do not check it.
one person who lived it
Avoid driving out of spite.
Other drivers may be just as petty or more so.
one person who lived it
Watch which lanes semi-trucks enter when traffic jams up ahead to identify clear paths.
Trucks often radio each other to share information about blocked lanes.
4 people, independently
Keep a safe distance from vehicles with items tied to their roof or in their truck bed.
Items may fall off unexpectedly.
one person who lived it
- Stay several car lengths behind vehicles carrying trailers or loose furniture in their beds.1
Avoid driving large trucks on Storrow Drive.
The route has short bridges that frequently cause collisions.
2 people, independently
19 more on this
Give heavy vehicles extra room when approaching intersections or hills.
A truck may need that extra space to stop safely.
one person who lived it
Do not tailgate slower-moving trucks on the highway.
You cannot see around them to know why they are slow, and a collision might go unnoticed by the driver.
one person who lived it
Recognize that while trucks can accelerate to match traffic speed, they cannot stop as quickly as cars.
A trucker noted their ability to reach 85 MPH from a stop but acknowledged the inability to stop as fast.
one person who lived it
Flash your lights to signal a trucker they can move over; if they flash back, acknowledge their thanks.
It is a small gesture that helps prevent accidents.
one person who lived it
Avoid cutting off vehicles towing large items like boats.
They have reduced stopping ability, which can lead to near-collisions.
one person who lived it
Turn on your headlights when driving behind trucks in rain or fog so they can see you.
Truck drivers have limited visibility through small, water-covered mirrors.
one person who lived it
Understand that trailer wobble limits safe speed for undersized vehicles towing heavy loads.
At highway speeds, heavy trailers attached to small vehicles can become dangerous as the trailer may steer the rear of the vehicle.
one person who lived it
Install a dashcam to record evidence for insurance disputes or property damage claims.
It can resolve insurance disputes, though proving the source of debris like stones is difficult without high-quality footage.
2 people, independently
Verify tire load limits on sidewalls, as they may be lower than the vehicle's GVWR.
Tires vary, and previous owners may have installed tires with lower weight limits.
one person who lived it
Show respect to truck drivers for their essential role in supply chains and their difficult working conditions.
They move almost everything people buy while working away from families in uncomfortable conditions.
one person who lived it
Claim damages from the trucking company if debris hits your vehicle, as signs disclaiming responsibility likely have no legal basis.
It is cheaper for companies to replace windshields than face lawsuits, and trucks are tracked so they cannot claim they were not on the road.
2 people, independently
- Stay back from trucks displaying warning stickers about debris to avoid repair hassles.1
Drive with the mindset that everyone wants to go home, rather than competing as people who deserve to go first.
one person who lived it
Determine your safe load limit by the lowest rating among your vehicle, tires, hitch, and trailer axles.
Overloading any single component is a failure point that can lead to serious issues.
one person who lived it
Follow UPS trucks or tow trucks in traffic.
They know road conditions and accelerate nicely.
one person who lived it
Use a dash cam to record evidence if debris falls from other vehicles and damages your car.
Proving that another vehicle caused the damage is difficult without video or witnesses.
one person who lived it
Assume that new truck drivers making mistakes are inexperienced and nervous.
Driving such a large vehicle to new places can be nerve-wracking.
one person who lived it
Recognize that four-wheelers are often responsible for fatal accidents involving semis.
Statistics show this is the case in almost all such incidents.
one person who lived it
Avoid positioning yourself between two trucks during a crash.
one person who lived it
One person reported flooring the accelerator to escape quickly when trapped between two crashing trucks.
- This is based on a single anecdotal account of a specific emergency situation.
one person who lived it