Truck-Only Lanes: What You Need to Know
December 9th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
If a lane is designated “trucks only,” it is intended solely for heavy trucks. A truck-only lane separates trucks from other cars on the road. In doing so, a truck lane can help minimize the risk of accidents and stabilize traffic flow.
Where Are Truck-Only Lanes Located?
You can find truck-only lanes in cities and towns across the United States. Generally, a truck-only lane includes a black-and-white sign that directs heavy trucks to use the lane. If a truck driver ignores this sign and travels outside the lane, he or she is susceptible to fines and other penalties.
Along with a black-and-white sign, there may be instances in which a green guide sign encourages passenger cars to stay outside of truck lanes. But, in these instances, passenger cars can still travel in truck lanes since green guide signs are not enforceable.
What Are the Benefits of Truck-Only Lanes?
The size and weight differences between a heavy truck and a passenger car can be significant. As such, if a heavy truck collides with a passenger car, the accident can cause severe damage or injuries to all parties involved. For that reason, one benefit of truck-only lanes is to help reduce the risk of collisions between heavy trucks and passenger cars.
Along with boosting road safety, truck-only lanes can improve also the travel experience for truck and car drivers alike as they ensure passenger car drivers won’t have to worry about traveling in front of or behind a truck. This can help alleviate stress among passenger drivers — and further reduce the chance that they inadvertently lose focus due to a truck in front of or behind them and cause an accident.
Another benefit of truck-only lanes is that they can help improve travel speed for truck and passenger car drivers, too. These lanes provide truck drivers ample space to safely navigate the roads. The acceleration and braking performance of trucks tends to be much lower than that of passenger cars. So, requiring trucks to travel in one lane can potentially enhance the flow of other lanes of heavy traffic.
What to Do If You Are Involved in a Truck Lane Accident
If you are involved in an accident in a truck lane, you should move your car out of traffic and park your vehicle in a safe spot on the side of the road. Next, ensure you and any passengers are safe, as well as verify the wellbeing of the truck driver. If necessary, call 911 to report any injuries.
Call the police to report the accident. Provide the truck driver with your contact, car insurance, and vehicle information, and collect this information from him or her. Capture photos of any damage to your car and request the contact information of any witnesses. Get a copy of the police report following the accident as well.
If your car’s exterior was damaged during a truck lane accident, Fix Auto can assist you. We offer bumper, fender, and other car exterior repair services, all of which are performed by certified auto body technicians. To learn more or schedule a service appointment, please contact us online or call us today at 800.INFO.FIX.
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Vallejo, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing the San Francisco Bay area.
