![]() Mirrors can also be used to check for tire fires and if the truck is carrying open cargo to see if there are loose straps, ropes, tarps or chains. The driver should be vigilant to see what there is to be seen alongside the trailer so as to be in a position to make a quick lane change if needed. The mirrors are to be checked to learn of overtaking vehicles. Mirror adjustments should be made prior to the start of any trip and can be checked accurately only when the trailers are straight. Subject of course to whether the lights were properly working, adjusted properly and FREE of road debris, mud and dirt. High beams will illuminate for approximately 350-500 feet. In short, “over driving” is essentially the same as driving too fast for the conditions, a condition prohibited by the U S Department of Transportation’s, Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration.Īs a general rule at low beam, a tractor-trailer’s headlights will illuminate about 250 feet in front of the vehicle. This is a potentially dangerous practice as, by the time the truck operator sees a hazard, the object will be closer than the distance the driver will need to come to a complete stop. Driving any faster is referred to as “OVER DRIVING” the headlights. Consequently, a trucker driving at night must drive slowly enough to stop within the distance of the headlights. ![]() At night a driver can only see as far as the illumination cast by the truck’s headlights. Of the reported truck accidents, in a recent year, about 25,000 were accident that happened at night. See, NYS Commercial Driver’s License Manual 2.4.1.įigure 1, Open Driving/Open Highway SEEING AT NIGHT At highway speeds it is about a quarter of a mile. At lower speeds it is the distance of about 1 block. Obviously, this distance is relative to speed. That means looking ahead a distance that the truck will travel in 12-15 seconds. A trucker must look well ahead to make sure that there is enough room to make these moves safely.Ī good truck operator will look at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead. Because stopping or changing lanes can take a lot of distance, knowing what the traffic is doing on all sides of the truck is very important. Not looking properly is a major cause of accidents involving trucks. To be a safe driver a trucker has to know what is going around all around his vehicle. For convenience, the citations in this article refer to the New York State Commercial Driver’s License Manual. As a result, the CDL manuals in each state are almost identical. This act established minimum standards nationally that must be met before a state can issue a commercial driver’s license. Each State has issued Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Manuals as a result of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. However, there were 144,171 large truck crashes, in a recent year, resulting in 4,808 fatalities and 84,000 injuries. ![]() In recognition of these accidents and the potential dangers in the operation of tractor-trailers the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) were promulgated years ago. Large truck crashes are a significant problem nationwide. Driving a Truck Safely Semi Truck Driving Safety Tips
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |