Objective
To prevent intersection accidents by anticipating the hazards involved and knowing how to safely avoid them.
Description
Crossing intersections with long vehicles presents problems that automobile drivers do not have. Because of their length and their slow acceleration, trucks and buses take much more time to cross and clear intersecting roads than do automobiles. Also, at night, the sides of long vehicles may not be conspicuous to approaching drivers. Drivers of large vehicles must recognize these problems and take special care when crossing intersections, particularly when they are uncontrolled intersections.
Questions for Management:
1. Have your drivers ever been trained regarding safe procedures when crossing intersecting roads? How? When? By whom? To what standard of performance?
2. Do you know if your drivers are practicing safe road crossing procedures?
3. Do you ever have qualified personnel ride with your drivers to assess safe driving habits?
4. Do you have a step-by-step procedure for approaching, entering, and traversing intersections?
Maintenance Checks:
• Side marker lights on tractor, trailer and buses.
• Cleanliness of sides of vehicles.
• Reflectors and/or reflective tape on sides of vehicles.
Driving Tips:
• Approach intersection assuming that cross traffic may not obey traffic control and anticipate the need for avoidance.
• When crossing an uncontrolled intersection, allow enough time to clear entire road with rear of vehicle without interfering with cross traffic. Don’t count on cross traffic slowing down to let you pass. They may not see you.
• Crossing uncontrolled intersections at night with large vehicles is especially hazardous. Although approaching drivers may see your headlights from the side, they may not realize you have a long trailer following.
• Keep sides of vehicle clean and keep side marker lights operational. Be very careful with dark-colored unloaded flatbed trailers.
