More often than not, there’s fatality when a truck gets involved in a road crash.

Trucks are more prone to getting involved in mishaps because other motorists are not familiar with how big vehicles use the road. Moreover, there are a lot of blind spots around a truck, which render its driver oblivious to smaller vehicles within a close proximity.

In this regard, motorcyclists are the most vulnerable and it is up to us riders to exert efforts to avoid becoming "human shawarma" by religiously observing preventive measures.

Here are a few safety hacks when sharing the road with big trucks.

Share the road, not the lane

While it is banned in some countries, lane-sharing or lane-splitting is a common practice here in the Philippines.

Because of a motorcycle’s compact dimensions, riders can run beside another vehicle in the same lane. This is dangerous enough when done even with a small car, but quite deadly if done alongside a big truck.

A lot of truck trailers also still don’t have side railings, so any road imperfection could potentially throw you under the wheels. Speaking of which, should the truck blow out a tire, the pressure of the explosion could literally take your head off.

Mind the blind spots

Big trucks are riddled with blind spots all around them.

Stay away from both sides of the trailer area because the angle of the truck’s side mirrors changes as the tractor head turns. And while some trucks are equipped with rear cameras, a good number still don’t, so it’s best to avoid the rear as well.

If you must filter to the front of the truck at a red light, make sure that you allot at least a car’s length between your rear and the front of the truck to ensure that the driver can see you.

Hang back when a truck is turning

A common mistake of motorcyclists is that they try to pass a turning truck on the turn side.

When a truck makes a turn, it usually requires two to three lanes, so it’s best to give it a 180-degree turning radius.

Even if you position yourself on the opposite side of the turn, the weight of its load could cause the truck to tip over in your direction.

A truck obstructs visibility

Be mindful of this, especially at intersections.

When you are in a lane beside a truck, motorists in the perpendicular lane won’t be able to see you and vice versa. This also applies when a truck is stationary on the outer lane.

There could be a pedestrian crossing in front of it or a vehicle pulling out of a driveway.

Do you find it daunting to ride a motorcycle alongside big trucks?

Rate this story now using the five stars below. It will help us provide content that you enjoy!