Sharing with big rigs

It’s inevitable that you and your passenger vehicle will interact with “big rigs” and their drivers in both city and rural settings.  Proper and safe behavior during those interactions is required by both parties for harmonious coexistence.

A recent column addressing the “rolling roadblocks” created when trucks make very slow passes beside other trucks generated some thoughts from readers.

In that column, I noted that the problem is alleviated where there are three or more lanes provided in the same direction of travel.  Reader D.Z. offered an alternative scenario, writing, “There is a relatively simple solution to the problem of a large truck passing another large truck, and is a lot less costly than the installation of another lane. When the cab of the passing vehicle has passed the truck to his right, the vehicle on the right would be required to slow and allow the faster truck to complete the pass.”

I like his solution!  Unfortunately, the behavior he describes would require the “passee” to be fully aware of their speed along with the speed and proximity of adjacent vehicles — seemingly not too much to ask, but not likely to happen en masse.  It sounds good on paper, but the lack of aware and cooperative drivers might preclude that theory’s implementation.  Luckily, some astute drivers automatically do what D.Z. suggests to accomplish expedient passes — I wish there were more such drivers.

Currently, no law specifies or requires the “slow-down” procedure for those being passed — such a law could not hurt though!  A related law, Revised Code of Washington 46.61.110, does, at least, require overtaken traffic to not speed up until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.

D.Z appropriately added, “The requirement of the vehicle being passed to yield to the passing vehicle would certainly alleviate a significant portion of the problem. It is not fair for one driver to impede a group of other drivers just because he doesn’t have the power to complete the pass in a timely manner, or the common sense not to attempt the pass on an uphill grade.”  I agree.

Reader S.N. relayed an experience with trucks in Illinois, explaining, “Weird combination of circumstances, but I passed a semi, another one was coming up behind me so I moved back to the right lane.  Then it apparently became a game between the truckers.  I was behind a semi, one was behind me and the third stayed in the left lane blocking me in and never moved.  It was terrifying.  A freeway I’d never traveled before, snowing at the time, and shoulder seemed way to narrow to pull over, so I was trapped by these three truckers for at least 20 miles.”

We are unable to hear both sides of the story, but it’s a good reminder for both parties to have empathy for one another when it comes to mixing big rigs with smaller ones.

Coincidently, I just received a communication from my auto insurer addressing the same topic.  Their memo reminds us that busses, RVs and towed trailers, as well as trucks, all tower over passenger vehicles.  Considering their height and weight, they can inflict serious damage to smaller vehicles and their passengers.  Also, big rigs have limited stop and go capabilities as compared to passenger vehicles.

Drivers of larger vehicles should not use their superior mass to bully other drivers.  By the same token, operators of smaller vehicles should recognize the handling limitations of trucks and busses and stay out of their blind zones.  Also, don’t “cut off” a big rig by jumping in front of it then braking to take an exit, for example.  Stopping distance for a loaded semi can be up to three times greater than that of a passenger vehicle.

In order to negotiate a right turn, particularly in urban areas, truck drivers sometimes swing wide to the left. They can’t see directly behind or beside their vehicle so don’t create a “squeeze” by cutting between the truck and the curb to their right.

As with all driving interactions, vigilance and common sense applied with deliberate thought is recommended when sharing the road with big rigs.

Readers may contact Bill Love via e-mail at precisiondriving@spokesman.com.