Learn How You Should Behave When Driving Different Types Of Vehicles

According to the World Health Organization, over 20 million people suffer injuries every year, a significant portion of which leads to severe disabilities as a result of road accidents. In addition to these grim figures, almost 1.35 million people lose their lives.

We are all guilty of underestimating the threats that we face on the road. Simply following the rules is not enough. Even if you are careful and make no errors at all, mistakes made by other drivers on the road can also lead to an accident. Defensive driving is key and accounting for the errors made by others is important. The most important thing, however, is to make sure that you are comfortable with the type of vehicle that you drive. Different types of precautions have to be administered while driving different vehicles. A motorcycle is very different from a car, both in terms of road presence and driving dynamics. A car, in turn, is very different from a truck or a bus. Here are a few points that you must keep in mind.

Driving A Two Wheeler

As the driver of a two-wheeler, be it a scooter or a motorcycle, you are probably amongst the most vulnerable on the road. Here are a few things you must ensure:

Always wear proper riding gear. This includes a helmet, a riding jacket, and riding gloves, and boots if possible.
Always stay visible. Wearing black riding gear might look cool, but it also makes it difficult to spot you in low-light conditions. Wearing bright riding gear will make you stand out and allow other drivers to notice you on the road.
Stay out of blind spots.
Avoid lane splitting.

As a motorcyclist riding in traffic, you should always be aware of your surroundings. More importantly, you should ensure that others are aware of your presence. One trick that motorcyclists tend to use is to frequently tap their brakes. This is done to flash the brake lights, rather than slow down. Doing this helps ensure that the person in the vehicle behind you notices you.

Driving A Heavy Motor Vehicle

If you are a trucker, you probably have a lot of driving experience under your belt. However, it is easy to miss out on minor details. Driving a truck is no easy task. Maneuvering a large vehicle like a truck takes a lot of practice and skill. One problem that gets amplified in Heavy Motor Vehicles is that of blind spots. Trucks have enormous blind spots. Unlike cars where the blind spot exists on the sides of the vehicle, towards the rear and next to the A-pillar, trucks tend to have massive blind spots all around them and these can be a major cause of accidents. This is something all truckers must always account for. Accidents due to blind spots are so common that if you are injured in a Tampa blind spot truck accident, you may even be entitled to compensation. In fact, in Florida alone, there were 33 fatalities and over 2200 accidents due to blind spots in trucks in a single year. Another thing that one must keep in mind is the enormous time and distance heavy motor vehicles require to slow down or come to a halt.

Driving A Light Motor Vehicle

Driving a car is considerably safer than riding a motorcycle and easier than driving a truck. However, you still need to take precautions and must be familiar with the good driving behavior that is associated with it. The one rule you must always follow is wearing the seat belt. Furthermore, while driving in traffic, there are a few things you must be aware of to ensure your safety and that of others:

Always be aware that you have a blind spot in your mirrors.
Never change lanes abruptly. You should always indicate in advance.
Never pull out into traffic from a parking spot without waiting for a gap.
If you are ever doubtful while overtaking, wait for a better opportunity.
Always tie down your luggage. If an accident occurs, loose luggage can result in severe injuries.
Always follow the right of way.

Irrespective of the type of vehicle you drive, it is important to ensure that you are well versed in the driving behavior that is expected of you. This is not only to ensure your safety but also that of others. When you don’t stick to the regular behavior that is expected from the drivers and weave in and out of traffic and change lanes without giving indications, it can surprise the other drivers and put everyone involved at risk.