A “blind spot” is any area around a car or truck that the driver can’t see directly while at the wheel. These exist in nearly all vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, and trucks. Certain types of vehicles, such as motorcycles, have little to no blind spots at all. Commercial tractor-trailer blind spots can be larger than those for passenger cars.
When driving, blind spots can be eliminated or reduced by using mirrors or turning one’s head over the shoulder to view the area directly. Steps like these are crucial for preventing accidents when turning and changing lanes. However, tractor-trailer blind spots still frequently cause significant accidents and injuries daily.
Why Do Trucks Have Such Large Blind Spots?
Trucks have more extensive and more numerous blind spots than passenger vehicles. This is due to several factors, including the length and height of the truck and the lack of a rear-view mirror.
- Tractor-Trailer Length – Semis are usually between 70 and 80 feet long, with triple trailers up to 105 feet. Drivers have minimal visibility on both sides of the truck and in the back and front.
- Truck Height – Because the height difference is so drastic, a truck driver may not be able to see a low-riding car. Being so high up also limits the truck driver’s view of what is close in front of the truck.
- No Rearview Mirrors – Due to the height of the trailer behind a truck, a rear-view mirror would not display any traffic. Truckers must rely on only two side mirrors to see where other vehicles are.
What Are Trucking Blind Spots Called?
In the trucking industry, a large blind spot is often called a “No-Zone.” According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), no-zones are areas where cars “disappear” from the view of the truck or bus driver; these places are where crashes are most likely to occur. In 1994, the FMCSA introduced the No-Zone program to inform the public on sharing the road with trucks and buses.
More than 80 percent of truck accidents are the fault of the non-commercial driver. Failure to properly check blind spots to the best of their ability is a common factor in many commercial truck accidents. Improperly or negligently setting mirrors or cameras is another contributing element in crashes. In other cases, inadequate training can also cause blind spot accidents.
How to Avoid Blind Spots
The No-Zone program and the American Trucking Association (ATA) offer the following advice to drivers of passenger vehicles:
- Do not cut in front of trucks or buses. Stopping a large commercial vehicle is different from a passenger car. Tractor-trailers need considerable space to stop, and cutting in front of them may not leave enough time or space to brake. The only way to safely merge in front of trucks is to ensure you can see the entire front end of the truck before pulling back into the lane in front of it.
- Do not linger alongside a truck. You may have seen the stickers that say, “If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you.” This is a good reminder not to linger in a truck’s blind spot. If you find yourself next to a truck, quickly and safely pass it or back off so the driver can see you. You should be able to see the driver’s face in the side mirror.
- Pass on the left. Due to the truck driver’s position in the cab, there is a significant semi-truck blind spot on the left side. On the right side, the blind spot runs the length of the truck and extends out three lanes.
- Stay back. Trucks require a four-second following distance, equivalent to the length of 20-25 cars. As previously mentioned, truck drivers cannot see anything behind the truck. If you follow too closely, a driver cannot see you, and if they make a sudden stop, you could rear-end it.
Representation for Tractor-Trailer Collisions
If you’ve suffered any injury from a North Carolina tractor-trailer collision caused by another driver’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation for the damages you’ve incurred. Maginnis Howard’s attorneys are experienced in handling complex cases, including those involving victims who have suffered injuries due to the negligence of a North Carolina driver tractor-trailer driver.
We offer free consultations and handle personal injury cases on a contingency basis. That means you don’t pay unless we win. We have three conveniently located offices in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Fayetteville. Visit our contact page for more information, and reach out today.
