Driving Tips From Truckers



Cornering
The most important thing to remember when taking sharp curves or cornering [esp. in an eighteen wheeler in the wintertime] is to slow down before the curve and power through the curve. You always want to keep a pull on a trailer and never let a trailer push you through a curve.

Turning On Red
Did you know that it is legal to turn left on red? Only turn left on red when it is from a one-way to a one-way.

Cars Beside Trucks
Never, and I mean never, drive beside an eighteen wheeler for long periods of time. It is extremely dangerous. First off the wind turbulence is bad and absolutely can push you off the road or pull you into the truck if you are not watching!

Also, if one of those tires does blow it can rip your head right off your shoulders and that's no joke. I've seen it happen and it's sickening.

Cars Passing Trucks
When you pass an eighteen wheeler in a car make sure you see, at the least, both headlights in your rearview mirror before executing your move in front of them.

Right Hand Turns
When you see a truck driver trying to make a right hand turn NEVER get to the right of him as he CANNOT see you! I've seen literally hundreds of cars smashed because of total stupidity.

The reason an eighteen wheeler driver swings wide to make a right turn is basically because he can't see and it is always better to be safe than sorry than to pay a city thousands of dollars for a ripped off stop light or stop sign.

It is NO different than making a left turn except for the fact that you can stick your head out of the left window. Of course if you are a giraffe then you are ok on right turns!

Get Out Of The Left Lane
I don't care whether you are in a car or in a truck, when you are through passing get out of the left lane! It only breeds hatred and frustration when drivers are rude and just ride in the left lane for no reason. The freeways are designed properly if ONLY they would be used properly!

Two Lane Roads
IF you are on a two lane road with a mile long line of traffic behind you and you are wanting to make a right turn instead of stopping everybody get on the shoulder to turn right so everybody else can keep moving [ if there is a shoulder of course ].

Look Ahead
Always look ahead of you NOT just right in front of your bumper as many people do. Learn how to judge distance and speed to keep the freeways moving smooth. IF you see a truck or even a car coming up on a very slow moving vehicle ahead of them, you should realize they need to get out and, IF you keep moving up to them at a high rate of speed knowing this, then it's your own idiocy when you get mad because they pull out in front of you. Common sense is called for in these situations.

Exiting
Don't be a dummy and hammer down right before you know you need to exit and cut a truck off OR cut in front of them and slow down to get off. You truly have no idea how close to death you are. If the driver is looking down for even a second you will be in deep trouble. Possibly 6' of deep trouble.

Use your head and common sense to realize that you should slow down and not try to pass. Why be in a hurry to just get off anyway? Will one second matter that much?

No matter how big you are, how bad you are, how rich you are, how smart you are, how dumb you are, how young you are, or how old you are you will die with 80,000 lbs on top of you.

Comments

Just a note: According to last info I was able to verify, left turns on red from a one-way street to another one-way street are allowed in most states, but at this time prohibited in the states of Connecticut, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Dakota (unless permitted by local ordinance), Rhode Island and in the District of Columbia and Guam, as well as in New York City, unless a sign indicates otherwise.

Moreover, Making a left-turn on red from a two-way street is legal in only five states: Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington.

If my information is outdated, I apologize.
 
Yes! Thank you. I just drove a sizeable truck across most of Canada and nearly killed some people in Calgary. They cut in front of me then slammed on their breaks to turn right. IDIOTS. Even with both feet on the brakes, I still felt the weight of everything behind me pushing on the cab. Their little car would've been toast if I was looking for a street sign or something, and I wouldn't have really felt it. I was going city speed, too, not highway speed.

Another reason not to drive next to a big truck in a city esp: When they're going around a curve in the road, because of their length, the will invariably cut into your lane a bit halway between axles.

OH! And if there's a big truck backing out of a driveway, they can't see you coming down the road. Don't just zip behind them. Stop and give them lots of space.
 

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