Where are Your Trucks’ Blind Spots and What You Can Do About These?

If you are truck driver then you should be concerned about the blind spots. The blind spots are areas around your pickups with limited visibility. If you are in another vehicle’s blind spots, the driver of the car cannot see and observe you through the mirrors. Trucks are known for bigger blind spots because the drivers sit up much higher than the drivers of most vehicles, and trucks are long, and the trailer part of the rig will often block the driver’s view. In short, the blind spots are serious concerns not just for the truck drivers but for the pedestrians and other drivers on the road.

So Where are the Truck’s Blind Spots?

Your trucks have four critical blind spots. Here are the blind spots that you should know:

Front blind spot. A truck driver may not be able to see roughly 20 feet in front of the cab. This means that if you move in front of a tractor-trailer or a larger, the driver ma\ not be able to completely see you.

Back blind spot. This is a critical area of the truck as it leaves the driver and the pedestrians blind. If you are the pedestrian, you cannot see what’s ahead and you have limited time to react when the truck slows down to swerves quickly. The driver will also not see this area. According to Consumer Reports, pickup trucks can have a rear blind spot of up to 50 feet. The longer the truck, the larger the blind spot.

Left side blind spot. The truck driver can only see you if you are even with the cab, or you are evenly positioned with the driver’s side door.

Right side blind spot. This is another critical part of the road that every pedestrian should avoid. If you are riding on the right side of the truck, then the driver may not be able to see you. The driver cannot also see the pedestrians in the lanes on your right.

Avoid These Blind Spots

Now that you know these blind spots, it’s best that you stay away from these areas which are also called ‘no zones’. it is also best if you can practice extra caution when passing a truck or if you are a truck driver when passing a car. You also don’t want to pass a truck on your right. This can lead to injuries and costly accidents. If the truck is moving slowly and you need to pass it, safely change lanes behind the truck and you can pass on the left. And finally, if you are a truck driver you may want to add reversing cameras or similar safety cameras to your vehicle. These will help you get a clear view of the rear or the side when parking or reversing.