Overtaking a truck is not easy. You need to be extra careful when doing it to avoid being involved in an accident. The steps you follow when overtaking a truck differ from when passing another smaller vehicle.
Here is how to safely overtake a truck:
Check the truck driver’s side mirror
Before overtaking a truck, you should check its side mirror. If you can see the truck driver’s reflection, they can see you. If you can’t, you may be in the truck’s blind spot. Hence, the truck driver may not see you coming.
Signal and move to the left
If you can see the truck driver’s reflection, signal your intention clearly and move into the left lane.
Trucks have a large blind spot on the right-hand side of the driver – it can extend up to three lanes, so undertaking would be even more risky than usual.
Once you are in the left lane and have confirmed it’s safe to pass, calmly and confidently accelerate. You should not linger on the side of the truck, as you may find yourself in a blind spot.
Drive ahead
After passing the truck, keep driving until you can see it in your rear-view mirror before merging back into the lane. Trucks have a blind spot immediately in front. Therefore, if you cut in too closely in front of it, the driver may not see you and, in turn, may hit you. And even if they see you, they may not have time to slow down to avoid crashing into you.
If a truck driver makes a mistake when you are passing, injuring you, legal guidance can help you make informed decisions.
