The biggest dangers on the road this summer could be those you can’t see or hear. E-bikes and e-scooters are surging in popularity, and they can take commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers by surprise.
E-bikes and e-scooters are silent. They’re often driven by children and teens, and they’re faster than you think. E-bikes can reach speeds of 28 mph or faster. For these reasons, professional drivers must stay ever-alert. Use these tips to share the road safely this summer with pedestrians and riders operating E-bikes, scooters and bicycles.
Know your neighborhoods.
Take extreme caution in downtown areas, coastal towns, parks and other areas where pedestrians, bicyclists and e-bikes are more common.
Watch your blind spots.
People and vehicles can hide in areas you can’t see. Adjust your mirrors and clean your windows so you can see as much activity around your truck as possible. Check your mirrors constantly, especially when changing lanes or turning.
Be careful at crosswalks.
Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks. Approach every crosswalk slowly and be prepared to stop. Never block a crosswalk, and don’t pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.
A pedestrian is killed every 74 minutes in traffic crashes.
Source: FMCSA
Scan your surroundings.
Cyclists and pedestrians don’t only cross the street at marked crosswalks. They can dart out from between parked cars, behind trees and light poles, or out of residential driveways. Stay alert by scanning the road ahead, sidewalks, and the sides of the road, especially in urban and residential areas. This risk increases as the weather becomes warmer.
Slow down.
Summer is no time to speed. Drive at or below the posted speed limit so you can respond to any person or vehicle that crosses your path.
Respect the rules of the road.
Bicycles have the same rights on the road as trucks and passenger vehicles. The same is true for e-bikes in most states. Do not try to share a lane with a two-wheeled vehicle. Give bicycles and e-bikes at least 3 feet of room when passing. And don’t follow too closely. Remember that a loaded tractor trailer needs 20% - 40% more distance to stop than a car.
Don’t honk.
The loud noise of a horn can cause a bicyclist or e-bike rider to panic, potentially creating an accident.
Put the phone down.
Do not use a handheld device while driving. Avoid eating, drinking, changing radio stations and other distractions. Just one glance away from the road can have devastating consequences.