Driving around a truck can be challenging. You may be concerned about its size and weight, and your inability to see the road clearly, especially in heavy traffic. Nonetheless, you can safely and comfortably share the road with a truck.
Here is one of the most crucial things to keep in mind when driving around a truck:
Be aware of blind spots
Smaller vehicle drivers should stay away from a truck’s blind spots, also called no-zones. Due to their size, height and a lack of rearview mirror, trucks have a blind spot directly behind. It’s recommended to increase the safe following distance when driving behind a truck.
The largest blind spot on a truck is located on the right side. A truck driver cannot see what’s on their right side, from the passenger door extending to the rear of the trailer. Trucks also have an extensive blind spot to the left, starting from the driver’s door up to about the midpoint of the trailer. Thus, you need to be careful on either side.
When looking to overtake, confirm that you can see the truck driver’s reflection in their side mirror. If you can, they should be able to see you as well, provided they are looking. Signal your intention to change lane, move into the left lane and accelerate. After passing, keep driving until you can see both of the truck’s headlights in your rearview mirror before merging back into your lane. You should not cut in too close, as trucks have another blind spot immediately in front of the cab.
Avoiding a truck’s blind spot is critical to staying safe on the road. However, a negligent truck driver may still injure you. If this happens, obtain more information about what to do to protect your rights.