Final answer:
Other drivers should make allowances for a truck's blind spots, size, and weight, which affect its braking distance and maneuverability, ensuring safe driving near heavy trucks.
Step-by-step explanation:
When driving near heavy trucks, other drivers and highway users must make allowances for the truck's blind spots, the truck's size, and the truck's weight. These factors significantly influence a truck's braking distance and maneuverability. To be safe, one should understand that heavy trucks have larger blind spots than smaller vehicles, necessitating more space when passing or merging. Additionally, their size and weight mean trucks require a greater distance to stop, which is why maintaining a safe following distance is crucial. When a heavy truck descends a hill, it gains speed due to gravity, and if it's fully loaded, its weight will contribute to a longer stopping distance, hence why empty trucks often stop more quickly than fully laden ones.