What is a significant risk when a car driver does not realize how close a truck is at intersections?

Failing to recognize how close a truck is at intersections presents a significant risk of dangerous collisions. Trucks are much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, which means they have different braking distances and turning radiuses. When a car driver misjudges the distance or speed of an approaching truck, they may make unsafe decisions, such as entering an intersection when there is insufficient space for both vehicles. This can lead to serious accidents, as the truck may not be able to stop or maneuver as quickly as a smaller vehicle. Understanding the size and handling characteristics of trucks is crucial for drivers to ensure safety when navigating intersections, particularly in urban areas where the interaction between vehicles of different sizes is common.

The other options, while they may present concerns in their respective contexts, do not encapsulate the gravity of the primary issue at intersections, which is the potential for collisions. Delays, incorrect signaling, or acceleration issues are less critical compared to the life-threatening risk associated with a collision between vehicles of vastly differing sizes and capabilities.