What Are Truck No-Zones and How You Can Avoid Them

Large trucks transport goods across Illinois’ roads, highways, and interstates. When you drive, you will need to share the road with these massive vehicles. However, you need to exercise a heightened level of caution and awareness around these trucks.

You may have heard of “no-zones” around trucks, but what are they? These areas are hazardous spots around large vehicles, like commercial trucks. If you happen to drive in these posts, you need to proceed with caution.

At Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP, we have handled many truck accident cases, many of which happen within these spaces.

So, what are truck no-zones, and how can you avoid them? Here are a few pointers that you will want to know to stay safe on the road.

What Are Truck No-Zones?

There are certain areas around trucks where the driver cannot see you. These spaces are known as “no-zones.” While you can drive in these areas, you must be cautious. Often, it is recommended that you keep a certain distance between your vehicle and the truck.

There are four no-zones around a truck, and according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), they include:

• Left side: This area extends from the driver’s side door to the middle of the trailer. All that space creates a blind spot for the truck driver.
• Right-side: The right-side no-zone extends from the passenger-side door to the rear of the trailer. Sometimes, this space can be up to four lanes wide. All drivers need to be cautious when passing trucks on the right side.
• Front: This no-zone reaches up to 20 feet in front of the truck. Many drivers will cross into this blind spot, especially when merging in front of trucks.
• Rear: Many times, this no-zone can extend up to 30 feet behind the truck. At this point, the driver is almost blind to others behind the truck. Other drivers should avoid lingering in this area.

Why Are No-Zones Dangerous?

Truck no-zones are dangerous for a few reasons. First, the truck driver has limited visibility of your location in these spots. Trucks and other commercial vehicles are larger and higher than other cars, small trucks, and SUVs. Even with their side mirrors, their vision is obstructed when other vehicles ride in these blind spots.

If you are caught in a blind spot and become involved in an accident, the damages are often substantial. Remember that trucks are massive vehicles, weighing up to several tons. The force of the impact during a collision is known to cause serious damage to smaller vehicles.

Unfortunately, those drivers and passengers involved in these accidents can suffer serious injuries. Many times, no-zone accidents can be catastrophic, leading to fatalities as well.

Where Do Most Accidents Happen?

While all these no-zones are dangerous, most accidents happen on the right side of the vehicle and near the back of the truck. When a truck driver changes lanes to the right, vehicles lingering in this blind spot can collide with the truck.

Also, during right turns, trucks swing wide to accommodate their length. Cars attempting to pass on the right may get caught in the turn and end up in a crash. Merging on a highway alongside a truck can be risky. If the truck driver doesn’t see the merging car, a collision may occur.

Staying up close to the rear of the truck is also dangerous and one of the top spots where accidents do happen. Many times, this is the result of tailgating. When you follow a truck too closely, it reduces reaction time. If the truck stops suddenly, rear-end collisions can happen.

When you are aware of these no-zones and use defensive driving practices, you can reduce your chance of becoming involved in a truck crash.

How to Avoid No-Zones

Fortunately, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration offers a few safety tips to avoid these no-zones while on the road. First, you will want to follow the two-second rule. With that, you will want to stay at least two seconds behind a truck. That means no tailgating. This brief pause gives you time to react to sudden traffic changes.

If you need to merge, you will want to provide the truck with plenty of space to slow down its speed. Along with that, you should always avoid passing on the right. The right-side no-zone is the largest. Passing a truck in this space can put you in this danger zone. If you need to pass, make sure to check the truck’s side mirror. If you see the driver’s reflection, they can see you, and it is safe to make your pass.

No matter where you are on the road, you always want to stay visible. When passing, you need to use your signals to make the truck driver aware of your position. Remember, if you cannot see the driver in their side mirrors, chances are that you are in their blind spot.

In many of these accidents, drivers who ignore these no-zones may share some fault. However, there are other times when the truck driver acted recklessly. In these situations, you may want to reach out to a truck accident lawyer in Morris to learn about your legal options.