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How to Drive Next to an 18 Wheeler Truck on the Highway

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From Kirstie Parker, Featured Contributor
Posted on August 28, 2008

3 tips to help you deal with stressful situations from a former trucker

I learned a lot about safe defensive driving techniques during my time as a truck driver, and a lot of these skills make me a better automobile driver to this day. Here are a few tips from a trucker about how to drive safely and share the roads with those big rigs.

1. 1. Use your turn signal

   Many “four-wheelers” (all you car drivers out there, as truckers call you) don’t use their turn signals, especially when changing lanes. One of the first things you learn as a truck driver is that turn signals are an essential safety feature on your vehicle, meant to protect you and notify others of your intentions.

2. 2. Don't pass on the right

   This might not seem to be such a big deal when you’re just dealing with other cars – but when big trucks are involved, you have to remember that the blind spots they carry with them wherever they go can cause serious problems if a car tries to pass them on the right when they are not expecting it. Remember to look for that side mirror on the front of the trucker’s cab. If you can see him, he can see you. If you cannot actually see the driver in the mirror, you are in his blind spot and he might not know you are trying to sneak by on the right.

3. 3. Accelerate when merging onto the highway

   If the truck is in front of you, slide in behind him and then pass on the left when it is safe to do so. If the truck is behind you, keep it that way! Don’t shy away from the truck – chances are, he’s got it in cruise control going about 64 mph and if he can change lanes to let you in, he probably will. If he can’t change lanes, you want to merge as safely as possible, which means asserting yourself and putting the pedal to the metal. Driving too slowly can sometimes be just as dangerous (if not more so) than driving too fast. Remember that the truck cannot accelerate on a whim like four-wheelers can do – it takes several seconds for a truck to speed up or slow down – so you have to do your best to get out of his way. Think of it this way: if the Titanic and a skidoo are on a collision course, which vehicle do you think should try to get out of the way?

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Kirstie Parker is a featured contributor for vLane.