Large trucks(tanker,cement,containers e.t.c)and buses(commercial motor vehicles or CMVs)have operating limitations such as large blind spots,long stopping distances,and limited maneuverability that make it essential for other vehicles to put extra focus on safety.

The following are 10 tips for driving safely around Large Trucks and Buses

1. Stay out of the “No Zones or Blind Spots”
Large trucks and buses have huge blind spots(in red shade) located:
-immediately in front of the truck
-beside the truck driver’s door
-on the passenger side which runs the length of the truck and extends out three lanes
-directly behind the truck.
[img]http:///a/img922/87/pZkoyt.jpg[/img]
*If you can’t see the driver in the truck’s side mirror, assume that the driver can’t see you.
*Don’t drive in a blind spot – slow down or move ahead to stay visible.
*Be particularly careful when merging near a truck or bus. You may likely be in a blind spot.

2. Pass Safely
Make sure you can see the driver in the mirror before passing. Signal clearly then move into the left lane and accelerate so that you can get past the truck or bus safely and promptly. Don’t linger in the blind spot. 

Make sure the truck or bus is visible in your rearview mirror before you pull in front; give it extra space.

3. Don’t Cut It Close
[img]http:///a/img923/9163/B2UUeh.jpg[/img]
Cutting in too close in front of another vehicle is always dangerous,but it’s especially dangerous to “cut off” a commercial bus or truck.

If you move in quickly from either side, you’re likely to be in a blind spot so the driver may not see you in time.
Even if you’re visible, the vehicle may not be able to slow quickly enough to avoid a crash because of the amount of time it takes to stop.

4. Stay Back
Tailgating a truck or bus presents added dangers. First, it puts you in a blind spot – or No Zone. Because trucks are so high off the ground, if you fail to stop in time (or get hit from behind) your vehicle could slide under the truck.

Getting too close when stopped is also dangerous – particularly on an upgrade, where a bus or truck might roll back. 

5. Anticipate Wide Turns
Buses and trucks require extra turning room – they swing wide, or may even initiate a turn from a middle (rather than far right) lane.
[img]http:///a/img924/9120/rsLI14.jpg[/img]
If a truck or bus has its turn signal on, never try to squeeze by it or get between the vehicle and the curb.
[img]http:///a/img924/7632/qsrGv4.jpg[/img]
When you stop at an intersection, never “block the box” or stop in front of the line, as buses and trucks require that space to complete turns safely.

6. Be Patient
Trucks and buses have operating restrictions, and sometimes use technology like speed limiters.

Honking, driving aggressively,or weaving through traffic won’t make the trip faster, but can cause dangerous distractions and crashes.

7. Buckle Up
Wearing your seat belt is one of the most important things that you and your passengers can do to save your lives.

8. Stay Focused
If you need to attend to a text,a call,GPS,or an app, get off the road and stop driving. Driving distracted can be as dangerous as driving impaired.

Don’t underestimate the speed(or overestimate the distance)of a truck or bus particularly when making turns,merging, or changing lanes.

9. Don’t Drive Fatigued
Take regular breaks, get another driver to relieve you, or get off the road and find a safe place to rest.

10. Never Drive Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
Alcohol and other drugs impair both judgement and reaction time. There is no safe limit for drinking before driving.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ourroads/tips-driving-safely-around-large-trucks-or-buses

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Driver-guide/Sharing-the-road-with-other-road-users/Heavy-vehicles.aspx

Educative post. The recklessness of those trick drivers though

for 7,8,9,10..nobody needs to tell u about those ones


trucks in naija don't av any speed limiter installed joor

but there's a solution to numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6....

motor boys!!!

with motor boys waving their hands every now and den like their salary depends on it, u can know if the truck want to change lanes,wants to make a turn,or simply doesn't want u to overtake

u wanna be safe?watch out for the flailing hands of the motor boy

@diportivo
Your solutions to no 1-6 is very funny Lol
No wonder the rate of truck/car accidents is very high in Nigeria.
To follow simple precautions is not easy in naija...
I guess you don't want to depend solely on Motor boys instructions

For this naija?!

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Good one. But what can we do to dangote truck drivers?

10nks op

The best tip?

Learn how to fly

It's as simple as that

But if you can't fly, then use aeroplane

jojomario:
Good one. But what can we do to dangote truck drivers?

always watch out for the arms of the motor boy

experienced drivers know this

diportivo:

for 7,8,9,10..nobody needs to tell u about those ones

trucks in naija don't av any speed limiter installed joor

but there's a solution to numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6.... motor boys!!!

with motor boys waving their hands every now and den like their salary depends on it, u can know if the truck want to change lanes, wants to make a turn,or simply doesn't want u to overtake

u wanna be safe? watch out for the flailing hands of the motor boy

Lol... And at night the motor boys use beam their torchlights light police at checkpoints

obafemee80:
@diportivo
Your solutions to no 1-6 is very funny Lol
No wonder the rate of truck/car accidents is very high in Nigeria.
To follow simple precautions is not easy in naija...
I guess you don't want to depend solely on Motor boys instructions

naija situation is peculiar and unique

if u follow oyinbo way,u wan quick die be dat

during our time,we learnt driving plus the corresponding hand signals....

maybe u havent been blamed for a crash for simply not following hand signal

hand signal is bae

Nice tips OP
@diportivo
What if you find yourself in a remote arear and you have no one to act as your so called Motorboys
So follow the precautions
Prevention is better than cure

Yes
Nigerian roads
We no even get marks on our roads.
FRSC uses nice roads for ad but on the real thing we no get roads

All those taxi drivers with their hurry hurry attitude put people's lives on danger everyday
They don't keep this rules

Make God save us from public transportation

Aldebaran:
Nice tips OP
@diportivo
What if you find yourself in a remote arear and you have no one to act as your so called Motorboys
So follow the precautions
Prevention is better than cure

In Naija, there's always a motor boy is inside the truck. Even smaller trucks (10-20 ft) carry them always. They are vital to the driver besides waving their hands, and no Nigerian truck driver in his right senses would travel without one.

Lane 2 very very Ok. Life has no duplicate.

Nice point OP

But I hear say some of those big big trucks the follow drink ogogoro

Op you omitted the most important.....
Keep ur hand on your HORN as you overtake long trucks

Show some love...It's my day

Aquariann:


In Naija, there's always a motor boy is inside the truck. Even smaller trucks (10-20 ft) carry them always. They are vital to the driver besides waving their hands, and no Nigerian ]truck driver in his right senses would travel without one.

@Emboldened, says who
Is it not Naija again?

wehdone OP!

Aquariann:


In Naija, there's always a motor boy is inside the truck. Even smaller trucks (10-20 ft) carry them always. They are vital to the driver besides waving their hands, and no Nigerian truck driver in his right senses would travel without one.

In other words, motor boy is bae!

Noted,you can keep ur own side of d rules but some wicked truck nd bus drivers wil nt keep theirs leading to loss of lifes everyday in accident

You mean am? You never see the one wey go tell you say"if dem your papa Well enter my side" nobody go to tell you say make you wait till you're giving permission to pass... Those Truck Drivers are King of the Road most Especially those ones driving Mark

Tapout:
nice write up, but some truck drivers are born with wickedness.... Have u ever tried to overtake a truck driver and he decides you not going to overtake him?? Believe me if ur not carefully in such a situation, u will surely have an accident.

sometimes they arent wicked though, some drivers will flag you down if they think its not proper to overtake at that point, they see better than you because they are ahead, or have seen a large port hole in the front and he will want to swerve to your lane to avoid the port hole, he doesnt want to tumble also but most arrogant drivers just want to claim , "this is my lane or its my right, this is particular not only to trucks and buses, however, ensure you honk and flash your head lamp , most of them will signal you to pass if you are reasonable enough

Saw on Lagos Ibadan expressway.

nice one op what if u find ur self in between two trucks only to see the two drivers discussing what should we do. because I know some of this truck drivers can be wicked.

EgunMogaji:
Saw on Lagos Ibadan expressway.

They look new, so big. I have seen them in mining site photos.

educative post...but how does this apply to places as densely populated and clogged like Lagos?

Nezero:


They look new, so big. I have seen them in mining site photos.

They should not be driving on the freeways.

They were very fast and actually drafting between cars.

Such a recipe for disaster.