Car Accident: What Is a Truck’s No-Zone

There are over 133 million total trucks in the United States, ranging from eighteen-wheeler tractor-trailers, to delivery trucks, tanker trucks, and more, these large freight trucks, also known as commercial trucks, share the roadways with motorists everyday. However, did you know that they are dangerous areas around trucks and buses where crashes are more likely to occur? These “no-zones” around trucks and buses are so big that it can actually hide a car from the truck driver’s view.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been educating and increasing motorists’ awareness about sharing the road safely with big trucks since 1994. Commercial Trucks can pose a danger to motorists, however, the biggest danger is actually caused by automobile drivers driving in the truck’s “no-zone.”

According to the FMCSA, there are four no-zones that surround a truck on the road, they include: along both sides of a truck, directly behind a truck, and directly in front of a truck. The No-Zones are actually “blind spots or areas around trucks and buses where your car “disappears” from the view of the drivers,”states the FMCSA. Additionally the FMCSA states, “since the car literally “disappears” from the truck driver’s view, driving in a trucks no-zones represent the areas where crashes are more likely to occur.”

Why is it important to avoid truck’s no-zones?

• According to the US Department of Transportation, nearly 250,000 accidents are caused every year
• The driver of the car was at fault for more than half of all fatal car and truck accidents (DOT)
• The majority of car and truck accidents happen during the day, in normal weather conditions, on straight roadways, during normal weather, and with no indications of alcohol use. (DOT)
• The driver and passengers of a car are more likely to sustain serious or fatal injuries because of the difference in sizes and laws of physics.

Knowing a truck’s no-zones could help you reduce the likelihood of causing a car and truck crash and steer clear of unsafe driving situations when sharing the roads with commercial trucks.

Some important safety tips to keep in mind when sharing the roads with trucks:

• Commercial truck’s blind spots are very large as compared to that of a car
• Look at the truck’s side-view mirrors, if you can’t see the truck driver, the truck driver can’t see you.
• Commercial trucks and buses need more room when making a right turn. To accomplish this, they swing left before turning right. Give plenty of room and try not to linger near the right shoulder.
• A commercial trucks stopping time is nearly double that of a car’s. Give plenty of room when passing and don’t immediately slow down when getting in front of a truck. A general rule of thumb is to look for the who front of the truck in your review-view mirror before pulling in front of the truck.

The attorneys at Zimmerman & Frachtman are experienced lawyers skilled to represent your truck accident claim. Zimmerman & Frachtman attorneys represent truck drivers and passenger car drivers to get the compensation your claim deserves. To learn more about your options in truck accident cases, contact Zimmerman & Frachtman at (954)675-7140 or fill out our online contact form.