Truck Blind Spots are Bigger than Most Drivers Think

Recent studies have shown that many drivers greatly underestimate how large truck blind spots are, creating unsafe situations for both the drivers and the truck driver.

When it comes to driving your truck safely, you rely on your own judgment as much as you rely on the judgment of all the other cars and vehicles on the road. Recent studies have shown that many drivers greatly underestimate how large truck blind spots are, creating unsafe situations for both the drivers and the truck driver. How big are truck blind spots and how can you minimize no zones when you are driving?

Truck Blind Spots

First things first, trucks have larger blind spots than many drivers realize (aside from being larger than they think). The length and height of the truck as well as their lack of a rear view mirror affect the number of blind spots truckers experience. 18 wheelers are typically between 70 and 80 feet long, so truck drivers deal with very limited visibility on both sides of the truck, as well as the back and front of the truck. Trucks are so high off the ground that sometimes shorter and smaller cars (like smart cars) are tricky to spot. Beyond cars, trucks can have trouble seeing anything small on the ground in front of their vehicles, creating dangerous blind spots. Rear view mirrors are one of the safety tools that drivers rely on every day for safe merging and constant awareness of where other cars are. Without a rear view mirror, truckers cannot see vehicles behind them that don’t appear in their side mirrors.

No-Zone 101

A whopping 80% of the accidents that occur between commercial trucks and other vehicles are caused by the other vehicles. Many of those accidents are caused by drivers unaware (or uncaring) of the no zones surrounding a truck. No zones are the areas a trucker cannot see or monitor while operating their vehicle, or, their blind spots. How can you safely pass or drive near a truck while taking no zones into account?

• Do not cut off trucks like you would cut off smaller passenger vehicles. Hopefully you don’t cut off other cars anyway, but, keep in mind that large trucks need much more space to properly stop their vehicle. Braking isn’t as simple with a large truck, and cutting off a truck may mean the truck hitting you by accident.
• Do not hang out in any of the no zones on the side of a truck. If you are right beside a truck on the highway for long stretches, try to pass them or move somewhere else that you are visible to the truck driver.

Middleton & Meads Co. for Your Fleet

Middleton & Meads. provides quality truck and bus repair, service, and fleet management for the Baltimore, MD area. We have over 90 years of experience in the trucking industry and will provide you with customer service like you have never experienced before! If you are interested in seeing how we can help your business, give us a call at (410) 752-5588 or visit us online today! For more articles and trucking tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and LinkedIn.