Those Big Rigs

You know those giant, eighteen wheeled rigs that come barreling down the highway? The ones that seem so scary? Well, we should be wary of them. They are, in truth, tons of high-speed energy that no driver should ever discount as a real threat to his or her safety.

Here’s the funny part: the drivers of those big rigs are probably as worried about you as you are of them. Truck drivers are required to take defensive driving courses online or in classrooms.

Why? Because too many drivers react the wrong way when they see the big trucks. They dart onto highways in front of them (and then slow down), cut in front of them, or drive next to or right behind them. Most truck drivers would prefer that other vehicles, especially passenger cars, kept their distance, and practiced defensive driving.

Even an empty eighteen wheeler traveling at a moderate 65 miles per hour on a highway, because of its kinetic energy, cannot stop on a dime. If a passenger car that is only a few car lengths in front of one of these diesel monsters were to stop suddenly, the best efforts of the truck driver might not be enough to avert…a disaster.

Use caution when traveling on interstate highways, and follow defensive driving rules. Each state has major highways that are often traveled by big rigs. For example, in Florida, be aware of Highway 95 and the Florida turnpike; learn more about major arteries by attending a Florida driving school.