{"id":1281,"date":"2016-09-24T17:19:48","date_gmt":"2016-09-24T17:19:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=1281"},"modified":"2025-04-25T23:22:00","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T23:22:00","slug":"18-wheelers-vs-cars-sharing-road-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/auto\/driving-safety\/18-wheelers-vs-cars-sharing-road-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"18-Wheelers vs. Cars \u2013 Sharing the Road For Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

You can\u2019t drive anywhere on the nation\u2019s highways without seeing them \u2013 they\u2018re the 18-wheeler big rigs. They\u2019re big, they\u2019re imposing, and they\u2019re aggravating when they use their intimidating size to bully their way in front of you at a slower speed. But, most of all, they can be dangerous. Even deadly. And, car insurance<\/a> companies are well aware that the statistics involving injuries and death are rising every year as more big rig drivers take the roads.<\/p>\n

When sharing the roads with these huge tractor-trailers, you need to use a certain amount of care and common sense. Messing with one of these \u201cbig boys\u201d, from any angle, can not only change the physical appearance of your car, but it could also mean life-changing injuries or worse\u2026death.<\/p>\n

To put things in clearer perspective, let\u2019s say you drive a new Toyota Prius. According to Toyota, the Prius is approximately 175.6 inches or 14.6 feet long. Meanwhile, although the average length of an 18-wheeler can vary greatly depending on the type of cab and number of trailers being pulled, the average is 70-80 feet. And, if that\u2019s not enough for you, imagine the legal weight of an 18-wheeler is a hefty 80,000 pounds while the Prius weighs in at a mere 4,000. Do the math. That\u2019s a 40-ton to 2-ton ratio. Needless to say, those are not fair odds.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why whenever you\u2019re out driving and you find yourself having a \u201ctoo close for comfort\u201d encounter with a big rig, whether it be alongside, in front, or in back, remember those odds and give them plenty of room. Do not shadow an 18- wheeler as many drivers do by pacing them in an adjacent lane. Under heavy loads, single- and double-trailer rigs often drift from side to side and can even cross into your lane, side swiping your vehicle. They can have a devastating blowout and lose control. Furthermore, in emergency braking situations, they are terribly unstable and run a high percentage chance of jack-knifing and sweeping everything in their wake along with them.<\/p>\n

In all fairness, big rig accidents are not always the fault of their drivers. Finger pointing is easy if we don\u2019t understand the ins and outs of driving and maneuvering such large trucks. Automobile drivers create dangerous conditions by cutting off the rigs in traffic, forcing the driver to brake hard<\/a> or swerve with potentially deadly consequences. Common courtesy and patience go a long way in making it possible for passenger vehicles and 18-wheelers to coexist on our highways.<\/p>\n

So, for both your and your family\u2019s safety, follow these rules of the road to reduce the possibility of injury and damage to your vehicle.<\/p>\n