Missouri Bicycle News

The Fort Collins, Colorado, Bicycle Guide (PDF) has safety advice that applies to bicyclists and pedestrians when heavy trucks are turning corners:

When a large vehicle makes a turn at a street corner, that long distance between front and rear wheels means that the rear wheels may "off-track" and run across the pedestrian area at the curb. A skilled driver knows just how the wheels must track in order to make the turn.

But pedestrians must be "heads-up" and keep aware of their surroundings. Back away from the edge of the street corner when a large vehicle approaches for a turn. Being alert and staying out of blind spots are keys to pedestrian safety when around large vehicles and buses.

Bicyclists should not pass trucks or buses on the right and should always stay out of BLIND SPOT areas. Keep your place in traffic behind these vehicles staying alert for lane changes or turns at intersections or driveways.

Bicyclists should be especially careful of approaching trucks on the right near intersections and driveways.

Keep in mind that on Missouri's narrow roads, trucks must move far to the left to prepare for a right turn. So what appears to you to be a truck moving into the left lane is oftentimes a preparation for a right turn by the truck.

Do NOT move to the side of a truck in this situation!

Do NOT pull up along trucks stopped at intersections.

Two recent bicyclist fatalities in the Kansas City area have been caused by this exact scenario.

On a related note--beware of the "right hook" coming from any vehicle, including trucks--when a vehicle passes the bicyclist on the left and then, underestimating the speed of the bicyclist, immediately turns right into a street or driveway. This is always dangerous but especially so when a heavy truck attempts this maneuver.

Because large trucks in the U.S. lack pedestrian guards common in many other countries, bicyclists and pedestrians can easily be knocked over and crushed by the trucks rear wheels. Addition of these relatively inexpensive guards could save the lives of many pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists who are killed in "override" accidents with heavy trucks.

Today in the U.S. heavy trucks have huge blind spots. With today's technology this is just ridiculous--inexpensive video cameras can solve the problem completely. Heavy trucks should not be allowed to plow people over with the excuse "I couldn't see". They need to figure out HOW to see and with today's technology, it can be done.

As with many issues with roadway safety, there are precautions to be taken by all road users. But ultimate responsibility for this situation must be taken by trucking companies to design and use trucks that allow drivers to see what they are driving over.

Related: Wheel guards on trucks could save lives in Missouri



permanent link to article: "Bicyclists--stay out of trucks' blind spot"
posted by Brent Hugh at 8/03/2006 11:56:00 AM |comment on this article