Illinois Injury Law Blog

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have united with the National Organization for Youth Safety for "Teens and Trucks," a program teaching teen drivers the dangers of large trucks and how to stay clear of truck blind spots.

Knowledgeable drivers know that fully loaded tractor trailers need plenty of room to stop -- almost twice as much as normal vehicles. Experienced drivers also know that when tractor trailers can see you, that reduces the risk of Chicago trucking accidents.

Our Illinois injury lawyers know that nearly 4,000 16- to 24-year-olds died between 2005 and 2009 because a crash with a large truck.

"We want everyone to be safe, but as newer drivers, teens must adhere to a few simple rules," said Anne Ferro, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. "They are: buckle up, don’t drink and drive; don’t speed, don’t text or use your phone, and steer clear of a truck’s blind spots."

The program offers a great demonstration where students take the driver's seat of a big rig while other students stand in the truck's blind spot.

"They can see just how extensive those blind spots really are, and generally, it's a sobering message for teens who participate in these events," Ferro said.

May through August mark the deadliest days for teens ages 15 to 19. During these four months, almost 16 teens are killed daily, compared with the average of nine deaths per day for the rest of the year.

"Do not expect that having a driver's license is a right that comes without responsibility or risk," said Steve Keppler, executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. "Be accountable for your actions, spread the word to your friends and parents, and help create a culture of safety. Most importantly, take the driving task seriously. You never know the impact you can have that ultimately could save your life or someone else's."

Six steps to stay safe around large trucks on the road:

-Never cut off large trucks or buses
When passing a bus or truck: use your turn signal, wait for any traffic that is behind you to clear, quickly complete your pass, signal your intention to return to your lane, then only return when you see the front of the truck or bus in your rearview mirror.

-Avoid blind spots
Buses and large trucks have huge blind spots. The best way to avoid an accident is when you can see the truck driver and they see you. Remember to pass large vehicles only on their left-hand side.

-Don't tailgate
Never tailgate any vehicle, particularly a large truck. Rear-ending a large truck could result in your vehicle going under the trailer, causing devastating injuries. Keep a minimum of a three-second following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.

-Understand that large trucks and buses make wide turns
Determining the speed of an oncoming large truck or bus is difficult and causes many accidents at intersections. If you are unsure of the speed of an approaching truck or bus, don't turn left into its path or pull into its lane. Because of their overall length, large trucks and buses have a longer turning radius. Often buses and large trucks will use adjacent lanes prior to and after a turn to avoid driving over a curb or sidewalk. Knowing that they do this can prevent accidents. Remember that a large truck or bus making a turn will swing wide in the opposite direction in order to clear the corner.

-Pulling off the road
If you must pull off the road for any reason, go as far off the road to the right as possible. Some of the worst crashes occur when an impaired, distracted or inattentive driver drifts to the right off the road, slamming into the disabled vehicle. Many states, including Illinois, have enacted "move over" laws. These laws require motorists to slow down or move over to protect police, firefighters and maintenance workers during the course of their duties.

-Buckle Up!