California Personal Injury Blog

Where are the No Zones for a Truck?

By Ralph Curtis
Jul 15, 2024
Truck Accidents
Accident-with-semi-truck

The Four No Zone Blind Spots to Avoid Driving In

The four blind spots around a big truck create the following no zones for other motorists:

  1. Front No Zone – 20 feet directly in front of the truck
  2. Rear No Zone – 30 feet behind the truck
  3. Left Side No Zone – Area in the adjoining lane from the driver’s mirror to about the midpoint of the trailer
  4. Right Side No Zone – Area that extends from the front of the truck past the rear and covers 2 lanes

The right lane beside a truck is by far the most dangerous no zone for you to be driving in.

Why?

Because the truck driver can see nothing along the entire right side of the truck.

Semi-trucks, on average, are about 75 feet long, whereas the average passenger car is about 15 feet in length. Cars driving on the right side of large trucks need to be alert for lane changes and right turns.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMC SA)1 shares a helpful infographic showing how significant the blind spots are for the driver of an 18-wheeler.

Types of Accidents that Can Occur in No Zones

Semi-trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds – about 20 times more than the average passenger vehicle. Trucks may be as tall as 14 feet, as wide as 8.5 feet, and as long as 75 feet, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)2.

The following are types of accidents that can happen when motorists drive in truck-no zones.

Rear-End No Zone Accident

Rear-end accidents can occur when a motorist hits the back of a truck or when a truck hits the back of another car. A vehicle following a truck in the no zone has limited visibility of things going on to the side and in front of the truck. If you are driving in rear of the truck driver’s blind spot they are likely not aware of being followed so closely.

If the truck driver brakes suddenly, you may not be able to stop in time to avoid a truck crash.

Drivers of smaller vehicles must also remember truck drivers can’t see them if they are too close to the front of the truck.

Trucks need more time to stop than smaller vehicles. Cars that cut in front of trucks, especially in heavy traffic, risk a serious rear-end accident if traffic suddenly slows.

Instead, as a rule of thumb, allow for extra space when driving behind a big truck of at least two car lengths.

Underride Accidents

Underride accidents can occur when a passenger vehicle rear-ends a truck or a truck changes lanes or turns in front of a smaller vehicle. Because the bottom of a semi-trailer is about the height of the hood or windshield of a passenger vehicle, part of the smaller car goes under the trailer, and the trailer cuts into the top of the car. Underride accidents can cause very serious injuries to the occupants of a passenger vehicle.

Front-End Accidents

Front-end accidents can happen when a truck driver does not see a vehicle in a no-zone and turns in front of the vehicle. Big trucks have a very wide turning radius and must often swing left when making a right turn. If a truck driver does not see a motorist approaching on the right side, the truck may turn in front of the oncoming car.

Sources Cited:

  1. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/lang/USDOT_OROR_Inforgraphic_1170x612-Truck_V17ai.pdf
  2. https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/legal-truck-access/legal-basis-truck-restrictions#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20legal%20trucks%20in,axle%20weight%20limits%20as%20well.