Driving always has some risks. There are many things that can cause an accident. Whether your teen drives to school, work or to see friends, it’s important that they know and understand how to drive safely, especially around trucks and motorcycles on major highways like 880 and 101.
How can you teach your child to drive safely around these vehicles and avoid dangerous situations? Here are three points to discuss with your teen driver.
Understand the blind spots
Large trucks have big blind spots, often called “No Zones.” These are areas on all four sides of the truck where the driver can’t see other vehicles. Teach your teen to avoid staying in these areas, especially on the right side and directly behind the truck.
When passing a truck, they should do so quickly and safely. They should make sure they can see the truck’s entire front in their rearview mirror before going back into the lane. For motorcycles, remind teens that riders are small and can be hard to see, especially in side mirrors. Always double-check blind spots before changing lanes or turning.
Maintain a safe following distance
Following too closely is dangerous with any vehicle, but it’s especially risky with trucks and motorcycles. Trucks need more time and distance to stop because of their size and weight. If a truck stops suddenly and a car is too close, it could cause a serious underride accident–where the car goes under the truck.
Motorcycles often stop suddenly because they might need to avoid things on the road that a car could easily drive over. Teach your teen to keep at least a four-second following distance behind trucks and motorcycles. They should increase this distance if the weather is bad or traffic is heavy.
Anticipate unexpected movements
Both trucks and motorcycles may need to make sudden maneuvers that aren’t typical for cars. Large trucks might need to swing wide to make turns (sometimes using another lane), potentially moving into other lanes. Motorcycles might need to change position within their lane to avoid something in the road or adjust for wind.
Teach your teen to give these vehicles extra space and to expect the unexpected. When approaching intersections, always be ready for a truck to make a wide turn or a motorcycle to change speed or direction quickly.
Safe driving practices
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), young drivers (aged 15-20) are involved in almost 12% of fatal crashes in California. While there are more efforts to improve safety on the road, it’s always a good idea to teach your child early about safe driving habits, such as checking blind spots, maintaining a safe following distance and anticipating the unexpected moves of other vehicles. Their lack of on-road experience makes them even more vulnerable on the road, so practicing these safe driving habits can be life-saving.