Trucks Blind Spots: No Zones Explained
No zones are large truck blind spots. Specifically, a no zone, is an area of the road a truck driver is unable to see even when using mirrors.
Large trucks have large-sized blind spots that can swallow cars on every side. Large trucks – commercial trucks, tractor-trailer trucks, etc – also have large blind spots that can cover entire vehicles.
When truck drivers don’t see you, major truck accidents are more likely to happen. Drivers sharing the roads with big rigs can help avoid accidents by being aware of a truck’s no zones and using extra caution when necessary to travel through them.
Let’s discuss what the four no zones are next.
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:
- Front No Zone – 20 feet directly in front of the truck
- Rear No Zone – 30 feet behind the truck
- Left Side No Zone – Area in the adjoining lane from the driver’s mirror to about the midpoint of the trailer
- 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 (FMCSA) shares a helpful infographic showing how significant the blind spots are for the driver of an 18-wheeler.
When truckers can’t see car drivers in their blind spots, serious truck accidents can occur, which we discuss next.
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).
The following are types of accidents that can happen when motorists drive in truck-no zones.
Rear-End 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.
How to Reduce the Chances of a No-Zone Accident
While technology can certainly help drivers stay safe, it has not replaced the need to pay attention and implement safe driving practices. The FMCSA offers the following tips to help drivers stay safe while sharing the roads with commercial motor vehicles:
- Be aware of no zones and try not to drive in them.
- If you can see the truck’s driver in the truck’s side mirror, the driver can see you.
- Be careful when merging next to a large truck, as you may be in a blind spot.
- Don’t cut closely in front of a truck. They may not see you and may not be able to stop.
- Leave plenty of distance between vehicles when following a truck
- Recognize and accept a large truck’s operating limitations – especially when turning or stopping.
Liability for a Blind Spot Accident
When an accident occurs, you may be wondering if the truck driver is responsible for the damages?
If an accident occurred because a truck’s driver did not see another car due to a blind spot, liability will usually be on the truck’s driver or an affiliated party, such as the trucking company or a service provider for the trucking company.
Not being able to see another motorist before an accident is not a recognized defense to liability.
While other motorists do need to be aware of the no zones around a truck and should try to avoid driving in them when possible, it is not illegal to drive in a no zone. However, the California Vehicle Code (CVC) does prohibit drivers from following too closely or making unsafe lane changes.
It is possible that liability for a no-zone accident could be shared between a truck driver and the driver of another vehicle if another driver’s illegal driving maneuvers contributed to the accident.
ADAS Technology Can Help Trucks Avoid No-Zone Accidents
Driver assistance technologies are intelligence systems developed to help drivers improve safety while driving. According to the FMCSA, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can improve a driver’s view of the road, maintain safe traveling distances between vehicles, initiate braking, and warn drivers of impending danger or if they are making an unsafe driving maneuver.
The systems use audio or video signals to warn truck drivers of a lane departure, forward collision danger, or something in a blind spot. It is estimated that automatic emergency braking technology could prevent more than 11,000 crashes with heavy vehicles, avoiding 7,700 injuries and 170 deaths.
Driver assistance systems are not yet widely in use in large trucks but are expected to be integrated more regularly as acceptance of the technology and its benefits continue to grow.
Where to Get Help after a Semi-Truck Accident in California
At Curtis Legal Group, our truck accident lawyers help families who have been devastated by a trucking accident.
Our truck accident attorneys have experience fiercely representing the interests of our clients. Our goal is to obtain the maximum compensation in the minimum amount of time. Schedule a free consultation with the personal injury lawyers at Curtis Legal Group today.