Stay Safe When Driving Near Big Trucks

Summary

This video offers smart drivers tips for navigating around big trucks, emphasizing that they're just another vehicle on the road. It advises staying focused, avoiding distractions, and not hanging out next to or behind these large vehicles due to their limited acceleration and blind spots. The video also covers the behavior of trucks in industrial areas, on highways, and uphill, noting that they may slow down or use right lanes for safety. It concludes with a reminder to drive smartly and avoid the truck's blind spots, ensuring a safe driving experience.

Takeaways

• 🚚 Big trucks are just another vehicle on the road and should be treated as such.
• 🛑 Avoid getting distracted by big trucks; focus on your own driving.
• 🚗 When big trucks slow down on the highway, avoid slamming on your brakes as it can cause accidents.
• 🚧 In industrial areas, give wide berth to trucks that are backing into loading docks.
• 🔄 Do not linger next to big trucks; adjust your speed to pass or get behind them safely.
• ⛰️ Be aware that trucks slow down on hills due to their heavy load, which can be up to 140,000 pounds.
• 💨 Debris from big trucks can damage your car's windshield, so avoid driving too close to them.
• 🛣️ On highways, use passing lanes to overtake trucks safely, and be aware of trucks signaling slow travel with four-way flashers.
• ➡️ Big trucks often stay in the right lane to allow faster traffic to pass and due to their slow acceleration.
• 🚦 In towns, trucks may try to time traffic lights to avoid stopping, as it's hard to accelerate back up to speed.

Q & A

What is the main advice given for driving around big trucks?

The main advice is to treat big trucks as just another vehicle on the road, focus on your own driving, and avoid getting distracted by their presence.

Why do cars sometimes freak out when a big truck slows down on the highway?

Cars may freak out because they are not expecting the truck to slow down, which can cause them to abruptly apply their brakes to avoid a collision.

What should you do if you find yourself driving behind a slowing big truck on the highway?

You should get your foot into the throttle and maintain your speed, as the truck is likely slowing to help other vehicles on the freeway.

Why should you give big trucks a wide berth when they are backing into a loading dock?

Backing big trucks can have limited visibility and maneuverability, so giving them a wide berth ensures safety for both the truck and other vehicles.

How can you safely adjust your position relative to a big truck on the road?

You can adjust your speed to either get behind or in front of the truck, utilizing the fact that cars typically have better acceleration than big trucks.

Why do big trucks slow down when going uphill, especially when loaded?

Big trucks slow down on hills due to their heavy load, which can be up to 140,000 pounds, making it harder for them to maintain speed on inclines.

What is the significance of the statement 'work smarter, not harder' in the context of the video?

The statement 'work smarter, not harder' refers to the smart truck drivers' strategy of timing traffic lights to avoid stopping, which conserves their effort and time in accelerating back up to speed.

Why do big trucks often stay in the right-hand lane on highways?

Big trucks typically stay in the right-hand lane due to their slow acceleration and the need to allow faster traffic to pass them safely.

What safety hazard is associated with driving behind big trucks on the highway?

Debris and small stones can come off the wheels of big trucks and hit the windshield of following cars, potentially causing chips and cracks.

What is the role of the 'Pass Your Driver's Test First Time' course package mentioned in the script?

The course package is advertised as a way to help reduce stress and increase the chances of passing the driver's test by providing driver training, including defensive and winter driving smart courses.

Why might big trucks activate their four-way flashers when traveling slow?

Big trucks activate their four-way flashers to indicate to other drivers that they are traveling slower than the normal speed, often due to heavy loads or road conditions.

Outlines

00:00

🚚 Driving Around Big Trucks: Safety Tips

This paragraph offers advice on navigating around large trucks, emphasizing that they are just another vehicle on the road. It highlights the importance of not getting distracted by their size and focusing on one's own driving. The speaker mentions a TikTok comment about cars reacting poorly when big trucks slow down, suggesting that drivers should maintain their speed instead of abruptly braking. The paragraph also advises giving trucks a wide berth when they are backing up and adjusting speed to pass or follow at a safe distance, considering trucks' limited acceleration. It notes that trucks, especially when heavily loaded, will slow down on hills, and drivers should be aware of this behavior. The video is sponsored by a driver's test course package, which promises to increase the chances of passing the test and includes defensive and winter driving courses. The paragraph concludes with a reminder to avoid lingering near big trucks to prevent damage from debris and to pass them safely when possible.

Keywords

💡Smart Drivers

Smart drivers are individuals who exhibit safe and responsible driving habits, often through education and experience. In the context of the video, smart drivers are those who understand how to navigate around big trucks safely. The video aims to provide tips and strategies to enhance their skills, as seen in the request from 'several smart drivers' for advice on driving around big trucks.

💡Big Trucks

Big trucks, also known as large commercial vehicles, are a common sight on highways and industrial areas. They are characterized by their size and weight, which affects their acceleration, braking, and maneuverability. The video emphasizes the importance of being aware of these vehicles and adjusting one's driving accordingly, as big trucks are 'just another vehicle on the road' but with unique handling characteristics.

💡Distraction

Distraction refers to a lack of focus or attention on the task at hand, which can be dangerous while driving. The video script advises drivers to 'not get distracted by the big trucks' and to 'focus on what you need to do.' This highlights the need for smart drivers to maintain concentration on their driving rather than being preoccupied by the presence of large vehicles.

💡Acceleration

Acceleration is the rate at which a vehicle increases its speed. The video points out that big trucks have 'slow acceleration' compared to smaller cars. This is crucial for drivers to understand when attempting to overtake or when adjusting their speed around trucks, as it affects the timing and safety of passing maneuvers.

💡Blind Areas

Blind areas, also known as blind spots, are sections around a vehicle where the driver cannot see other vehicles or objects. The video warns against 'hanging in behind them [big trucks] in their blind areas,' which is important for preventing collisions, as trucks have larger blind spots due to their size.

💡Debris

Debris in the context of the video refers to small stones and other materials that can be kicked up by the wheels of big trucks. The script mentions the risk of 'debris coming off the wheels' which can 'hit your windshield,' causing damage. This is a specific hazard associated with driving near large vehicles.

💡Hills and Mountains

The video discusses the impact of driving conditions such as 'hills or mountains' on big trucks, which tend to slow down when going uphill due to their heavy load. This is an important consideration for drivers following or approaching trucks, as it affects the truck's speed and the driver's need to anticipate changes in the truck's movement.

💡Passing Lane

A passing lane is a lane on a highway designated for overtaking slower vehicles. The video explains that 'most of the time with big trucks, they're going to stay in the right-hand lane,' and they may use passing lanes to allow others to overtake. Understanding the use of passing lanes is crucial for safe driving around trucks.

💡Traffic Lights

Traffic lights are signals that control the flow of traffic at intersections. The video mentions that truck drivers try to 'time the traffic lights' to avoid stopping, which is due to the effort required to accelerate such heavy vehicles back up to speed. This behavior is an example of how truck drivers must manage their speed and momentum differently from car drivers.

💡Throttle

The throttle is the mechanism in a vehicle that controls the amount of fuel sent to the engine, thus controlling the vehicle's speed. The video script uses the term 'throttle' when advising drivers to 'get your foot into the throttle and keep it going,' emphasizing the need for smooth and controlled acceleration, especially when following behind a big truck.

Highlights

Big trucks are just another vehicle on the roadway.

Focus on what you need to do and don't get distracted by big trucks.

When big trucks slow down on the highway, avoid slamming on the brakes.

In industrial areas, give wide berth to trucks backing into loading docks.

Do not hang out next to big trucks unless in the city and they're driving beside you.

Utilize your car's better acceleration to pass or follow behind big trucks.

Big trucks slow down going uphill due to their heavy load.

Trucks can weigh up to 140,000 pounds in Canada.

Debris from big trucks can cause damage to your windshield.

Big trucks often stay in the right-hand lane due to slow acceleration.

Big trucks try to time traffic lights to avoid stopping.

If big trucks are doing less than 40 mph, they will use four-way flashers.

Most highways have passing lanes for vehicles to get around big trucks.

Big trucks move over to the slow lane to allow others to pass.

Avoid hanging in the blind areas behind big trucks.

Smart drivers focus on their driving and avoid getting too close to big trucks.

The Smarter Driver course package can help you pass your driver's test the first time.

Transcripts

- Had a request from several smart drivers to do a video

about driving around big trucks.

Big trucks are just another vehicle on the roadway.

But if you're working in an industrial area or other places

on the outskirts of town, you're going to be operating in

and around big trucks.

Just another vehicle on the road.

You do what you need to do.

Focus on what you need to do.

And don't get distracted by the big trucks.

Had a comment from one of my smart drivers over on TikTok

this morning saying that when they slowed down

on the highway in their big truck, cars coming out

on the freeway would freak out and then jam on the brakes.

That's the last thing you want to do.

They're just trying to help you out

by slowing down a little bit.

So get your foot into it.

Get your foot into the throttle and keep it going.

Now, if you're driving in an area like this,

an industrial area, you can see there's trucks

parked on the side of the road.

There's going to be trucks around.

Give them a wide birth if they're backing

into a loading dock or whatnot.

Otherwise, if you're on the roadway,

just focus on what you're doing.

Do not hang out next to big trucks

unless you're in the city and they're driving beside you

but try and adjust your speed so you can either get in

behind them or you can get in front of them.

And it's fairly easy to do that

because they don't have great acceleration.

You've got way more acceleration in your car. So know that.

The other bit of information is if you're out on the highway

and you're in the mountains or on hills or whatnot,

know that the big trucks are going to slow down

going uphill because they're loaded.

They're really heavy.

Some of these trucks are 80,000 pounds

if they're in the United States.

Here in Canada they can be upwards of 140,000 pounds.

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and reduce your chances of being involved in an accident.

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The other reason you don't want to hang out behind big trucks

is due to the debris coming off the wheels,

picking up the small stones, and hitting your windshield

and causing chips and cracks in your windshield.

And that said, a super-beast is running out

at 140,000 pounds and completely loaded,

working hard, full capacity for that truck.

So you don't want to hang out next to that vehicle.

So you just get around expediently as I just did there

and carry on down the road.

You can see that the big truck slowed down

coming up the hill there.

Like the little engine that could.

I think I can. I think I can.

So they're going to slow down on hills.

So just know that if you're on a two-lane,

oftentimes there's a passing lane.

The big trucks will move over to the passing lane.

If not, you're going to have to stay in behind them.

But if they're doing less than 40 miles an hour,

they will activate their four-way flashers to indicate

that they're traveling slow.

And on most highways in this day and age,

they're going to have passing lanes so that the big truck

will move over to the slow lane and then you can get out

and get around the big truck.

Most of the time with big trucks,

they're going to stay in the right-hand lane.

Not always but most of the time. So know that.

And the reason for them staying in the right lane

is due to the fact that they have slow acceleration.

Some of them are shifting gears.

And because of shifting gears and their slow acceleration

off the line, they're staying in the right-hand lane

and allowing other traffic to move around them

and move past the big trucks when they're moving

through towns and whatnot.

The last point about big trucks

is they're in the right-hand lane moving through town,

they're trying to time the traffic lights

so they don't have to bring the vehicle to a stop

because it's a lot of work to get those big vehicles

up to the posted speed limit again.

So they're slowing down. They're working the throttle.

They're trying to get the traffic lights to go green

because they're smart truck drivers.

Work smarter. Not harder.

Last point about big trucks, focus on what you're doing.

Don't hang out beside them.

Don't hang in behind them either, in their blind areas

and whatnot, and you'll be all good when you're driving

through industrial areas and high-density truck lanes.

Happy motoring, smart drivers.

And remember, pick up the best answer,

not necessarily the right answer.

Have a great day. Bye, now.

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All the best. Bye, now.