You are likely to share the road with a truck at some point when driving. It’s vital to know where its blind spots are located so you can drive safely around it. While every car has blind spots, those of a truck can be unique.
Here is where they are located:
In front, on the sides and behind
A truck’s blind spots are immediately in front, on the sides and directly behind. When following a truck, be at least 30 feet behind its trailer. When you want to pass it, confirm that you can see the truck driver’s reflection in their side mirror. If you can, they can see you as well. If you can’t, it’s safe to assume the truck driver can’t see you.
If the truck driver can see you, signal clearly and move to the left. You should then accelerate to avoid spending more time on the side blind spot.
Drive until you can see the truck in your rearview mirror before returning into the lane. A truck’s front blind spot can extend up to 20 feet in front of the cab. Thus, if you cut off a truck, the driver may not know you are immediately in front of them. And even when they notice, they may not have time to stop to avoid hitting you since trucks take longer to stop.
Note that a truck has the largest blind spot on the right side. This blind spot can extend up to two lanes of traffic.
If you are involved in a truck accident, gathering sufficient information about the case is crucial to receiving the compensation you deserve.