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What is a Truck’s “No Zone”?

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

What is a Truck’s “No Zone”?

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

AskTheLawyers™

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Driving around large trucks or 18-wheelers can be nerve wracking for both drivers. With the disparity between size and weight of the vehicles, it’s not hard to see why it takes trucks longer to come to a complete stop or change direction to avoid an accident. This is why one of the best ways drivers can protect themselves and their families from involvement in a catastrophic truck accident is to give tractor-trailers plenty of room and to avoid a truck’s “no zone” at all costs.

The “no zone” refers to blind spots around a large truck where it is unsafe for others to drive due to the lack of visibility.

“No zone” areas to be avoided around a semi-truck include the following: The left back of the truck The right back of the truck Directly behind the truck

These areas can be avoided altogether by remaining a safe distance away from the truck.

If you find yourself sharing the road with one of these 18-wheelers, one of the best ways to ensure you are protecting yourself and your passengers is to put as much space as possible between your vehicle and the truck. When driving directly behind a semi-truck, try to remain around 300 feet back. This ensures that you will have time to brake or otherwise react if the truck behaves unexpectedly, and will also ensure that the driver can see you in their rearview mirrors and technology. Additionally, when driving beside a semi-truck, it’s wise to either remain 300 feet behind where the truck is driving or to safely accelerate ahead of the truck, ensuring the driver is more likely than not to see your vehicle and give you space as well. If possible, it may be wise to put a lane between your vehicle and the 18-wheeler, especially if the truck is exhibiting erratic behavior.

Driving in a truck’s “no zone” presents significant risks.

When a truck driver is not able to see a passenger vehicle driving behind or around them, they may attempt to change lanes or brake more suddenly than they otherwise would have. Lane changes by a truck into a vehicle and vehicles rear-ending large trucks are common trucking accidents which can be mostly avoided by taking proper precautions and driving defensively around these larger vehicles. Additionally, even when driving ahead of a large truck, it’s a good idea to put several hundred feet of distance between your vehicle and the truck behind you. Tractor-trailers are notoriously heavy, especially if loaded down with freight, and it can take them a significantly greater distance to finish braking than a passenger car would. If something happens and you suddenly need to slam on the brakes, having around 300 feet of space between your rear bumper and the truck’s front end can prevent catastrophic fender benders from occurring.

In some circumstances, accidents may occur even without a driver violating a large truck’s “no zone”.

Truck accidents tend to be catastrophic due to the differences between size and weight of the respective vehicles involved. Additionally, many trucking companies have their own legal and insurance teams hired to protect their company from liability. If you or a loved one were injured or killed in a trucking accident, it’s important to make sure you have your own legal team on hand to collect pertinent evidence and protect you and your family from further damage.

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