Here’s an interesting article from SGI’s website that offers a new perspective - a look at how the typical 4-wheeler might view sharing the road with large trucks. Here are some interesting excerpts from the article:

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The large truck is a special vehicle. Its motor is not much larger than a large car engine and yet the load it carries can be 50 or more times the weight of a car. When accelerating up to speed, truck drivers use up to 18 gear changes. Once they get into top gear, they do not appreciate having to start again. Therefore, avoid forcing a truck driver to slow down.

Large trucks will decrease speed when going uphill. You can expect truck drivers to pick up speed when going down hills to help them get up the other side.

Plan your passing accordingly. It takes longer to stop a large truck than a car, so a truck driver needs a longer following distance to be safe and in control. Do not cut in front of a large truck immediately after you have passed it.

Truck drivers have problems seeing smaller vehicles. Although they have mirrors that help them to see each side, you may not be visible to the driver if you follow too closely. (Besides, you can't see anything yourself.) Realize that in poor weather, exterior mirrors become spotted with rain and dirt, and the truck driver does not have an interior mirror. Be sure to make yourself visible. Drive with your headlights on.

The driver of a large truck or bus has difficulty turning sharp corners, particularly to the right. If the driver follows the proper procedure, vehicles facing him on the street he is entering should be prepared for the large truck or bus to enter their half of the roadway. If the large truck operator is not following the proper procedure, vehicles on his right in the street he is leaving should stay well back to avoid being crushed between the large truck and the curb. When you see a large truck or bus making a sharp right turn, give it the room it needs.

All drivers should avoid a large truck's "no-zone." The no-zone refers to the blind spot areas around big trucks, where crashes are most likely to occur. Just like cars, large trucks have blind spots on both sides, but a large truck's are considerably bigger. These blind spots can mean trouble if a trucker decides to change lanes and a car is in the blind spot. In addition to the blind spots on the sides of a large truck, drivers should be careful around the front end of large trucks.

Truckers sit up high and the hood of the cab obscures part of the road ahead. This is why when drivers in a car are passing a large truck, they should make sure they can see the entire truck cab in their rear-view mirror before pulling in front. If a car cuts in too soon, truck drivers are forced to react with little time or room to spare. Large trucks also have deep rear blind spots. A good rule of thumb is that if you can't see the large truck's mirrors, the truck driver can't see you.

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What do you think of this article? Any advice for four-wheelers that you might add?