What Drivers Should Know About Sharing the Road with Semis on I-15

I-15 sees a steady stream of semi-trucks moving freight through Utah every day, and sharing the road with them takes more than just common sense. These vehicles behave very differently than passenger cars, and misjudging that difference can lead to a serious crash. Here’s what to know about driving alongside semis on I-15.

A Semi’s Blind Spots Are Bigger Than You Think

Semi-trucks have blind spots on all four sides, and they are much larger than the ones on your car. The area directly behind the trailer is often a total blind spot, as are large sections along both sides of the cab. If you can’t see the truck driver in their side mirror, there’s a good chance they can’t see you either. Lingering in these zones, especially while passing, puts you at risk of a collision. Contact our St. George truck accident lawyer in the event you were involved in a blind spot collision with a truck.

Commercial Trucks Need Far More Distance to Stop

A fully loaded semi can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which means it takes far longer to stop than a standard vehicle. At highway speeds, a loaded truck may need almost twice the stopping distance of a passenger car. When traffic ahead slows suddenly due to congestion, construction, or a stalled vehicle, a truck that is following too closely may not have enough room to stop in time, putting every vehicle around it at risk.

Semi-Trucks Swing Wide Before Turning

Because of their length, semis often need to swing wide in one direction before completing a turn in the other. A truck turning right, for example, may briefly move left to give the trailer enough room to clear the corner. Drivers unfamiliar with this pattern sometimes pull up alongside a truck at an intersection, not realizing they are positioned directly in the truck’s turning path.

A Fully Loaded Trailer Weighs a Lot More Than Your Car

The sheer weight difference between a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle changes the physics of any crash involving the two. The smaller vehicle absorbs the majority of the impact force, which often leads to injuries far more severe than what is typically seen in a collision between two passenger cars.

Truck Drivers Often Push Through Long, Fatiguing Shifts

Federal regulations limit how many hours a truck driver can be on the road, but fatigue is still a common factor in truck accidents. Long stretches of highway driving, tight delivery schedules, and irregular sleep patterns can all contribute to a driver’s reaction time slowing down. A fatigued driver may drift out of their lane, misjudge following distance, or fail to notice a slowing vehicle ahead.

Were You Injured by a Truck Driver While Driving on I-15?

Semi-trucks operate under a different set of physical limitations than passenger vehicles, from wider turns to longer stopping distances, and drivers who do not account for these differences can end up in serious accidents. If a truck driver left you injured on I-15, you have the right to take legal action. A St. George auto accident attorney can look into what happened and help you pursue the compensation that you are owed. Contact an attorney to talk through your options today.