Maintaining a proper lookout. This is an issue for truck drivers on the road. They are required to actually maintain, or be able to see 12 to 15 seconds ahead of them. As the Commercial Driver’s Licence Manual notes, the truck drivers do look ahead, but the problem is that they do not look ahead far enough. The Commercial Driver’s Licence Manual actually discusses the fact that stopping and changing lanes takes a lot of time and requires a special lookout.
The manual, of course, points out that truckers need to have adequate time and space whenever they are stopping or changing lanes. If the trucker is actually driving at a lower speed, then having a lookout of 12 to 15 seconds means that the truck driver is actually looking about one block ahead or they should be looking about one block ahead.
If the trucker is driving at a higher speed, especially on the highway or the freeway, which is normally where you find them, then the trucker should be looking approximately a quarter of a mile ahead. The Commercial Drivers’ Manual also points out that truckers should not be looking at things that are just near. They should be shifting their attention to the things that are near to them as well as the things that are far away.
It is also recommended that truck drivers be on the lookout for drivers who are coming on to the highway. Drivers, of course, are advised to be on the lookout for brake lights. They are advised to maintain and adjust their speed accordingly. Now, interestingly, if a trucker sees a green light, instead of speeding through that intersection, or through that light, I should say. If they have seen that green light for a long time, it is recommended that they according to the Commercial Drivers’ Licence Manual that they actually begin to slow down.
If you have questions about whether the trucker was maintaining a proper lookout in your case, call me at 770-792-1000.