Teens have a lot to learn when it comes to driving. Because of their inexperience on the roadway, teens are often unaware of the hazardous conditions that contribute to an accident. Take for instance the weather. While most teens should know that rainy weather makes for a slippery roadway, some don’t and drive as though the rain does not heighten the risk of an accident. Aside from inclement weather, some teens are also unaware about how to operate their vehicle properlywhen sharing the roadway with large commercial trucks.
Did you know that in 2014 26 percent of 4,000 lives taken in commercial vehicle accidents belonged to young drivers? [Source: Traffic Safety Guy]? “Too many drivers of passenger cars, especially young people ages 16 to 24 years old, unnecessarily endanger themselves by failing to recognize that trucks and cars differ significantly in their handling characteristics,” according to the source. In an effort to reduce the chances of a teen involved in an accident with a large commercial truck, below are five tips highlighted by truck accident attorneys in Chicago that can help keepteenage drivers safer..
- Refrain from cutting off large trucks. Too many accidents occur because the driver of a smaller car cut off the operator of a truck who had less time to stop.
- Stay out of a truck driver’s blind spots. Avoid driving alongside a truck for too long. Chances are, they can’t see you and if you hang around this area for too long, they could attempt to switch lanes without knowing you are there.
- Watch your following distance. Following too closely to a truck, or any car for that matter, is dangerous and puts you at risk of rear-ending the vehicle in front. Not only does following too closely make it more difficult for a trucker to see you, but also due to the higher height of a truck you also cannot see and predict when the traffic ahead of you is going to come to a complete stop. It’s important to remember that other drivers ahead of you may hit their brakes abruptly. Therefore, it’s important to have a few feet between you and the truck in front of you and pay attention to the truck’s brake lights..
- Beware as large trucks make wide turns. Because of the long length of a truck, truck driversgenerally requires a significant amount of space to make a safe turn. Don’t attempt to immediately follow a turning truck that will probably need two lanes to make the turn successfully. Instead, wait and let the trucker complete his turn and then proceed your turn.
With car crashes being the number one killer of teens in the United States, it is important that all efforts are made to help them become aware of the dangers that exist on the roadway[Source: National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS)].
Now, if you or your teen has suffered an injury in a recent truck accident, contact a Chicago truck accident attorney at the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. by calling 1-312-384-1920. Not only can we help you understand what your rights are as a victim, but we canhelp you recover compensation for your injuries.
You can contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at:
221 North LaSalle Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60601
1-312-384-1920
1-800-693-1LAW
