Regardless of how many years of driving experience you have, driving around a truck rarely becomes a walk in the park. You will always need to be more alert and cautious when near trucks, as they are larger and heavier. One of the things you need to be careful about is their blind spots.
Do you know where they are?
Here are three spots to avoid when driving around a truck:
Directly behind
The large size of trailers makes it impossible for truck drivers to see what’s directly behind them. Most commercial trucks lack rearview mirrors because they would only show the trailer. Accordingly, truck drivers depend on side mirrors for rear vision.
Thus, when sharing the road with a truck, avoid being directly behind it. Increase the safe following distance to respond safely if it slows down or stops.
Further, being directly behind a truck prevents you from seeing ahead, creating a blind spot for you.
On the sides
Despite having side mirrors, trucks have blind spots on the sides because of their height. The right-hand side of the driver has the largest blind spot. It can extend up to three lanes to the end of the rear blind spot. The left-side blind spot is smaller than the right one (it can cover one to two lanes), but it’s also dangerous, especially when the driver turns left.
Immediately in front
The long noses of trucks make it impossible for truck drivers to see what’s immediately in front of them. You should never cut in front of a truck after passing it.
You can safely drive around a truck and even pass it if you observe safety measures. However, a truck driver can make a mistake and hit you. If this happens, seek legal guidance to determine how to claim the damages you incur.