Truck drivers are facing a dangerous problem. When it comes to roundabouts, it seems motorists are a little confused about who has the right-of-way.
Despite a new law passed in Wisconsin that gives the right-of-way to semi trucks in roundabouts, motorists
Semi trucks simply cannot be maneuvered like cars, and roundabouts weren’t designed to handle them. That’s why the law also allows truckers to take up additional lanes while negotiating turns.
But according to WBAY, it appears that most car drivers are simply unaware of the new law.
The ruling was intended to address a safety issue arising from a number of deadly crashes. When a small car is faced with an 80,000-pound truck, the result can be catastrophic.
Randy Asman of the DOT advises car drivers to “give them [truckers] space” and to “let them go first” because “in the end, if you’re a passenger car and you have a semi next to you and you guys crash, you’re going to lose.”
Truck drivers should be extremely cautious, especially while the law is relatively new. It’s best to be vigilant while driving and to anticipate the actions of surrounding motorists to stay a step ahead.
Wisconsin truck drivers hope that by spreading the word, they can make the roads safer.
