One of the biggest things that truckers in the industry have to get used to is lots of highway traveling. As tricky and stressful as getting on an exit can be in a regular car, the pressure is much higher for a semi-truck. With these tips, we hope to put you more at ease when exiting the highway.
Keep a Sharp Eye
Exits are notorious for slipping by, for several reasons. First, it’s hard to pay attention on the highway, especially for long distances, because the monotonous drive can lull you into highway hypnosis. Another reason is that in some areas, exit numbers can be confusing, you might not know right away if you’re heading in a direction where they’re counting up or down. Even after that, going at highway speeds can make it more difficult to catch your exit in time. The best thing to do is to know when you are at least five or ten miles out from your exit, which you can easily do with a GPS. Once you enter that zone, you can start looking out for when your exit comes up.
Take Your Time
It’s really annoying and dangerous when you see cars cutting across several lanes to catch an exit. While it helps to be mentally prepared for your exit, you should also drive so that you can ease into the exit. You should be no less than two miles away before you start exiting. That includes working your way into the exit lane. Keep in mind that it will take longer depending on how comfortable you are changing lanes, how much traffic is on the highway, and what weather conditions are going on.
Safe Driving Practices
The best way to avoid a truck accident, in general, is by following traffic rules as well as good driving practices. For example, you should always use your signal when you are about to change lanes; otherwise, it’s near-impossible to exit the highway safely. You should start signaling at least five seconds before you move, to give cars plenty of time to get out of your blind spots. Additionally, you can check your mirrors and, if you can do it safely, look over your shoulder to help compensate for your blind spots. Keep in mind that you can never be one-hundred percent sure if the cars around you are paying attention, so it’s good to go slow and steady when you change lanes just in case.
Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star for All of Your Trucking Needs
Whether you are looking to upgrade your fleet to tow trucks or simply interested in all the latest and greatest trucking technology, you can rely on Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star. We have provided top-notch service for the trucking industry for 30 years and would love to assist you in buying a new top-of-the-line truck, finding the specialty parts you need, or repairing your truck. Give us a call toll-free at 800-832-7278 or locally at 410-685-4474, or contact us online. To find out more about what we are up to, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Tags: highway, safe driving, trucking basics, trucking safety