Sharing the road with other vehicles
LARGE TRUCKS AND RVs
To reduce the chance of having an accident with a large truck or RV, you must be familiar with a big rig’s physical capabilities and how they maneuver.
大きなトラックとRV車
大きな車との間での事故を避けるためには、その車の特徴を知っておくべきです。
Braking
ブレーキ
Large trucks take longer to stop than a car traveling at the same speed. The average passenger vehicle traveling at 55 mph can stop in about 400 feet. However, a large truck traveling at the same speed can take almost 800 feet to stop. Don’t move in front of a large truck and suddenly slow down or stop. The trucker will not be able to stop quickly enough to avoid crashing into you.
大きなトラックは急に止まれません。平均的な乗用車は５５mphは４００ フィートで止まれます。しかしながら、大きなトラックは、８００フィート必 要とします。大きなトラックの前に入るのはやめましょう。トラックは急に止 まれません。
Turning
When any vehicle makes a turn, the rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels. The longer the vehicle, the greater the difference. This is why big rig drivers must often swing wide to complete a right turn. When you follow a big rig, look at its turn signals before you start to pass. If you think the truck is turning left—wait a second and check the turn signals again. The driver may actually be turning right.
曲がる時後方のリアタイアは前方よりも短めに着いてきます。長い車はもっと ちがいます。それで曲がる時は一度違う方向へと進んでから反対側に曲がるこ とになります。左に曲がるだろうと思っていると、そこから急に右に曲がって きますから、注意が必要で、くれぐれも大きな車の近くでは、車の動きが明ら かになるまで、追い抜こうとはしないで下さい。
Shaded areas are the driver's blind spots.
陰は見えにくい場所
Trucker's Blind Spots - The NO ZONE
Passenger vehicle drivers incorrectly assume that a trucker can see the road better because he or she is higher off the road. While truckers do have a better forward view and bigger mirrors, they still have serious blind spots and your vehicle can get lost in those blind spots. You block the trucker’s ability to take evasive action to avoid a dangerous situation if you stay in those blind spots. Generally speaking, if you can’t see the truck driver in his or her side mirror, he or she can’t see you. These blind spots are often called the “NO ZONE.”
トラックは上部に座席があるので、周囲を良く見渡せるでしょう。それでもブ ラインドスポット（死角）はあります。
トラックドライバーのサイドミラーであなたが見えなければ危険です。これは NO ZONEと呼ばれています。
Maneuverability
Trucks are designed to transport products and they are not as maneuverable as passenger vehicles. Large trucks have longer stopping and starting distances. They take more space for turns and they weigh more. On multilane highways and freeways, large trucks usually stay in the center portion of the lane to help the flow of traffic. This also increases the trucker’s options in case he or she must change lanes to avoid a hazard.
Avoid these mistakes when driving around large trucks.
トラックは乗用車としては優れていません。それで他の車よりも動くのにス ペースが必要です。
Cutting off a truck in traffic or on the highway to reach an exit or turn. Cutting into the open space in front of a truck is dangerous. Trying to beat a truck through a single lane construction zone, for example, removes the truck driver’s cushion of safety and places you in danger. Slow down and take your turn entering the construction zone. Don’t speed up to pass a truck so you can exit the roadway. Take a moment to slow down and exit behind a truck—it will only take you a few extra seconds.
トラックの前を走るのは危険です。トラックを追い抜くためにスピードを あげるのはやめましょう。出口付近ではとくにゆとりをもちましょう。
Don’t linger alongside a truck when passing. Always pass a large truck on the left side and after you pass the truck, move ahead of it. Don’t linger, because if you do you make it very difficult, if not impossible, for the trucker to take evasive action if an obstacle appears in the road ahead.
Following too closely or tailgating. When you follow so closely behind a truck that you cannot see the truck driver’s side view mirrors, the trucker has no way of knowing you are there. Tailgating a truck, or any vehicle, is dangerous because you take away your own cushion of safety. Where will you go when the vehicle in front of you stops quickly?
近づきすぎない事。危険です。
Never underestimate the size and speed of an approaching tractor- trailer. A large tractor-trailer often appears to be traveling at a slower speed because of its large size. Many passenger vehicle vs. large truck accidents take place at intersections because the passenger vehicle driver did not realize how close the truck was or how quickly it was traveling.
