At times, it may be impossible to avoid briefly traveling into a truck’s blind spot, such as when you need to switch to another lane.
However, when it comes to commercial trucks, the larger and more unwieldy the vehicle is, the bigger these dangerous areas are.
What it is
According to the National Law Review, these spots occur because of a truck’s height and length. Since it is considerably harder to view approaching cars out of the side of the window in a truck, it causes dangerous gaps in perception for anyone operating them.
Rear-view or side mirrors may not alert the driver to anyone next to him or her if the car is too close to view. The dashboard and windshield often contribute to this confusion by blocking even more areas from view. Reckless truck drivers may swerve without thinking into another lane and crash into a car that they did not even know was there.
Where the spots are
Since truck drivers sit higher up in their seats than those in other vehicles, the area directly in front of the truck is dangerous. If you are too close in front, you are not visible to the driver. Additionally, you need a proper amount of distance if you are following behind the truck on the right or left side.
What to practice
Staying several car lengths back and always using turn signals are solid strategies. If you tailgate a truck, you may not be able to stop in time if the driver needs to stop suddenly. These zones are important since trucks make wide turns and can often swing out in the opposite direction without warning.