No matter what kind of vehicle occupies the road at the same time that you do, you have to be extra careful. Driving side by side with a trailer or large truck even demands more caution. Read these simple safety tips to help you drive smart when you have to share the road with these monolithic vehicles!

Trucks and trailers are quite popular in Nigeria, especially Lagos. Actually, you can find them in every country.

Driving around locations like Apapa and its environs, you’re bound to find countless trailers on the road as well as on other highways in Lagos. Usually, some of them prefer to operate at night, that way, they can drive as fast as they want without hitting anyone. But unfortunately, this isn’t the current reality, trailers still operate a lot in broad daylight and a bulk of them are not very careful.

Due to their size and restricted maneuverability, trailers can cause irreparable damage when a collision occurs. In Nigeria, accidents involving trailers have killed people in hundreds and injured a lot more.

Since we’re aware of avoiding them might not be entirely possible, we can find ways to keep ourselves safe once we have to drive by their side. The following safety tips by Naijauto will help minimize the danger to you and anyone else in your vehicle when driving side by side with a trailer.

1. Maintain enough space between you and the trailer
This is the first and most sensible step to take once you find yourself in this situation. Whether you’re driving behind a trailer or beside it, make sure you keep ample distance. If the trailer is behind you and moves too close, change your lane. Unlike cars, trailers need a substantial amount of space than cars do, it takes them time to halt when an emergency occurs.

2. Keep out of a trailer’s blind spot
Trailers are larger and so, they have bigger blind spots than other vehicles. To stay safe, if you can’t see the trailer’s mirrors, it means the driver can not see your vehicle as well. Stay alert and always remain visible.

3. When driving by a trailer, don’t be too fast
The craziest and most dangerous thing you can do is to step fiercely on your accelerator when driving by a trailer. Driving by one can be inevitable most times, so while you’re at it, be extremely vigilant and always do so on the left. Also, avoid cutting the truck off by getting closer into the lane in front of it, the driver might just choose to accelerate and that moment.

4. Be conscious of the trailer size
Generally, your safety is very much dependent on the distance you can keep between your vehicle and the trailer. Trucks need all the possible space on the road, the more reason why you have to maintain your lane strictly.

The trailer could be very large, even 16 times larger than your vehicle. Apart from worrying about the full weight of a trailer on your vehicle, you also need to consider the possibility of a trailer transporting dangerous chemicals. The accident will definitely become worse if this is the case.

5. Avoid any form of distractions
Phone using, and chatting are among the most blamed activities that cause grave accidents for losing the focus on the road and other vehicles. Avoid your phones, ditch plain jokes from your rides, check your mirrors as often as possible, and keep your head up at every second and especially when driving side by side with a trailer. By doing this, you're securing your life, your loved ones' lives, and other road users' lives as well.

Like reading this? Visit Naijauto.com for more helpful tips!

Thank you. God bless you

helpful tips

God bless op for this.