Landstar Roadstars offer sound advice on avoiding lane change and sideswipe accidents.
"Make smart driving decisions - make lane changes, turns, stops, and back up slowly," says Landstar Roadstar Charles Shelton, Jr. "By doing these things slowly, it gives others a chance to help you should there be an emergency."
Here are some other tips on managing the space around your vehicle in order to avoid lane change and sideswipe accidents.
Space ahead. Keep a safe following distance. The distance should vary with your speed, visibility and road conditions. For every 10 feet of vehicle length, allow one second if you’re traveling below 40 mph. Add one additional second if you’re going over 40 mph. Also allow much more space for inclement weather, poor visibility, road conditions and night driving.
Space behind. Judge the speed and distance of vehicles behind your truck in order to change lanes safely. When dealing with "tailgaters":
- Slow down gradually and allow the other vehicle to pass.
- Don’t slow down or turn quickly.
- Don’t speed up – the tailgater will stay with you.
- Refrain from turning on your tail lights or flashing your brake lights in an attempt to "shake" the other driver off your tail.
- Allow additional space in front of your vehicle to lessen the chances of a rear end collision.
Space to the Sides. Make sure you always have an “out” in case you have to change lanes. Keep the truck centered in the lane. Aim to keep a space cushion on one side of your vehicle.
Give Space to Others. Be alert and look for cues that signal the intentions of other drivers. It’s every driver’s responsibility to keep traffic moving smoothly. You can help by allowing space in traffic for other vehicles to merge or make lane changes smoothly.
For more information, please contact:
safety@landstar.com
or 800-872-9496.
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