Commercial Truck No-Zones

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created the “Share the Road” Program to educate the driving public about how to safely share the road with trucks and buses. One goal of that program was to increase awareness of No-Zones, the blind spot areas around large commercial vehicles. No-Zones are the areas where cars are so close to the truck that the driver’s ability to stop or maneuver safely is restricted. Because No-Zones are areas where crashes are more likely to occur, the FMCSA hopes that educating drivers about them may reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage from these kinds of crashes.

Side No-Zones – Do not keep your car in the blind spots on the sides of large commercial trucks. Trucks have huge blind spots (No-Zones), much larger than a car’s blind spots, on both sides. If you can’t see the truck driver’s face in the side-view mirror, the driver can’t see you. You will be in serious danger if the truck has to swerve or change lanes.

Rear No-Zones – Do not tailgate a large commercial truck! The truck driver can’t see your vehicle, and you can’t see ahead of the truck. Unlike cars, commercial trucks have huge No-Zones directly behind them because there is no rear window. The truck driver can’t see your car, and you can’t see what is happening ahead of the truck. If the truck driver brakes or stops suddenly, you will have no place to go. Leave room to stop between your car and the truck.

Front No-Zones – Practice safety when passing. Never cut in front of a large commercial truck. Trucks need nearly twice as much room to stop as passenger vehicles. If you cut in front too soon after passing a truck and then immediately slow down, the truck driver will be forced to slam on his brakes and you might get rear-ended. When passing, look for the entire front of the truck in your rear-view mirror before pulling in front, and then do not slow down.

Despite all these warnings and education efforts, truck accidents happen.  If you’ve been injured in a commercial truck accident, contact Wendt Law Firm P.C. today to discuss your legal options with a Kansas City truck accident lawyer.