Trucks have drastically bigger blind zones because their much larger size, combined with trailers and their high seating position, gives truck drivers substantial areas they simply can’t see directly.
These blind spot areas are also sometimes called “no-zones” because as a driver you ideally should never occupy these invisible-to-the-trucker spaces if avoidable.
Where are the Blind Spots Located on 18-wheelers?
18-wheelers and other large commercial trucks have several very large blind spots located around the vehicle that are very hazardous:
- The Front No-Zone
- The Side No-Zones
- The Rear Blindzone
Why Do 18-wheelers Have Such Huge Blind Spots?
A variety of reasons contribute to why 18-wheelers and similar sizable freight trucks have so much more expansive troublesome blind zones than cars and small pickup trucks, including:
- their sheer size
- the high seating vantage point
- oversized trailers obscure the rear view
- the fact that priority is placed on cargo capacity
- safety regulations limit extension mirror angles
Driving Tips for Enhanced Safety
Here are some practical tips for staying safe and avoiding an accident when driving around big rigs:
Always Avoid Their No-Zones if Possible
If you are able to do so safely, never drive in an 18-wheeler’s substantial blind spots. Stay far back, forward, or to the side where they are likely to see your smaller vehicle presence.
Pass Trucks Very Quickly If Necessary
When needing to pass an 18-wheeler, you want to spend as little time as possible in their huge difficult-to-see side blind zones. Accelerate quickly when moving left.
Maintain Extremely Large Following Distances
Make sure to allow significantly more following distance between your vehicle and trucks ahead since they can’t see you well in their long front no-zone if you’re too close.
Avoid Abrupt Lane Changes Near Trucks
Don’t make sudden darting lane changes next to or in front of trucks, or quickly cut across multiple lanes at once around them.
Very Carefully Monitor Blinker Signals
Watch carefully for a truck’s turn signals before trying to pass them or approach their vehicle closely from behind. Their blind spots make turns very dangerous.
Give Even More Space Cushion at Night
It’s far more challenging for truckers to notice vehicles hidden around their extensive blind field at night. Give them even greater space cushion when driving in dark conditions.
Never Tailgate
Absolutely never tailgate behind an 18-wheeler or other large truck. Their rear blind zone makes rear-end collisions extremely likely, often with devastating outcomes due to the significant size differential.
Load Any Cargo Securely
Make sure any equipment or materials transported in your smaller vehicle are tightly secured. Loss of cargo during collisions worsens injury risks.
Special Risks 18-Wheeler blind spots Add on Highways
High-speed controlled access highways with faster-flowing traffic mixes add major additional risk factors when it comes to 18-wheeler blind spot safety because of:
Much Faster Traffic Speeds
Higher prevailing speeds of 65-75 mph greatly restrict reaction times for truckers to notice and respond appropriately to unexpected collision hazards entering their sight-limited zones.
Hectic Merging/Weaving Traffic
On-ramp merging and necessary lane changes by other vehicles cause constant intermixing that sends more motorists straying blindly into hazardous areas near speeding trucks.
Limited Space for Evasion Maneuvers
Narrow lanes and confined concrete median barriers along busy highways remove any room for quick evasive actions when caught in truck blind spots.
Prevalence of Driver Fatigue
The long nonstop distances traversed on highways contribute to tired truckers, slowed reflexes, and added reaction times.
Challenging Driving Conditions
Bad weather like rain, wind, snow, ice, and fog prevalent on highways further degrades already limited visibility – making it even easier for surrounding vehicles to vanish from view.
Greater Consequences of Collisions
The high-speed kinetic energy levels make truck collisions on highways over twice as lethal, with significantly increased injury and fatality rates.
Technology Advancements to Improve Truck blind spot Safety
Fortunately, there are effective blind spot safety technologies that continue to help truck drivers to better detect surrounding vehicle proximity.
They include:
- Blind spot monitoring sensor systems
- Lane departure warning technology
- Automatic emergency braking systems
- Enhanced convex mirror systems
- Cross-traffic alerts for trailers
- “Blind spotter” augmented reality display concept
Final Thoughts
While side mirrors and onboard safety technologies continue evolving to mitigate risks, 18-wheelers – due to their sheer massive sizes – will always have expansive problematic blind zones.
As a result, all motorists must take precautions by proactively minimizing proximity to trucks, maintaining control of vehicle speed and trajectory, and employing appropriate responses if unexpectedly caught deep inside these sight-limited zones and no zones.
Staying keenly aware of the extensive and often surprising blind spots around commercial trucks enables vastly safer shared roadways. And so it is important to work collectively towards maximum road safety by ensuring small vehicle and heavy truck blind zone awareness.
