Sharing the Road With Big Rigs - A Guide for Young Drivers to Stay Safe

Nobody particularly likes sharing the road with semi-trucks. They're slow, they impair your visibility, and their drivers can be obnoxious. But these concerns are especially strong among young people and new drivers. While merely being behind the wheel of a car takes some getting used to, sharing the road with big rigs can be downright scary. The sad fact is that a disproportionate number of semi-truck accidents are with young drivers, and a disproportionate number of young drivers' accidents are with big rigs. Clearly, young people need some tips for sharing the road with these monsters, but older, more experienced motorists could also benefit from this kindly advice.

Stay Out of 'No Zones'

Most semi-trucks have markers on them telling you that once you're past a certain point, the driver cannot see you. Do not take these signs for granted, and always make sure that you are aware of them. Every vehicle has some sort of blind spot, but due to their massive size, a semi-truck's blind spot is particularly large.

Be Extra Cautious When Passing a Semi

Driver's education trains young people to drive like… well, not young people. What I mean to say is that driver's ed under-emphasizes real, practical driving skills like passing, forcing many teenagers to learn by doing on the open road. Many fail to appreciate the added time that it takes to pass a semi, especially in the face of oncoming traffic or the end of a passing zone. Semis can take a long time to accelerate and being stuck behind one can be frustrating, but if you must pass, take the signs literally and pass with care.

Secondly, be sure that you exercise caution when completing your pass of a large truck. Remember that semis cannot stop as readily as smaller vehicles, so never pass a big rig when an immediate stop is likely. An example of this would be passing a semi on the freeway directly before an exit, or worse yet, passing one on a highway right before a traffic light.

Be Careful of the 'Squeeze Play'

When driving parallel to a semi on the freeway or a multi-lane highway, be extremely cautious on curves. Hundreds of deaths are caused each year by motorists who end up on the inside curve of a freeway exit - the semi normally ends up occupying more than one lane, if you're in its way or not. Remember, you might be in the driver's blind spot.

Young Drivers and Car Insurance

In addition to your bodily safety (and the safety of others), it is especially important for young drives to be accident-free due to the car insurance implications. Young drivers already pay high rates - especially boys - but once a teen is in an accident, his or her rates are guaranteed to go through the roof. In fact, you flat-out might not be able to afford to drive, and that's if your license isn't taken away (by the government or your parents). Car insurance is a major expense for young drivers, and that's why it is so important for them to shop around for the best rates. Use sites like this one to find the best policy.