Tractor-trailers are a part of many nostalgic memories of family road trips. Getting the truckers to blast their loud horn has captivated many a kid on a family vacation. While the site of these oversized vehicles is commonplace, sharing the road with them is far from the time to get complacent. The sheer size and weight of tractor-trailers make them an ominous force on the road. The destruction a tractor-trailer is capable of cannot be understating. For those unfortunate enough to be involved in a tractor-trailer crash, catastrophic and even fatal injuries are common results. To help you and your loved ones stay safe on the road, you need to be aware of the “no-zones” of a tractor-trailer.
What are no-zones?
The “no-zones” of a tractor-trailer are referred to as such because cars and other vehicles should avoid entering or lingering in these areas around the truck as much as possible. There are four tractor-trailer no zones to be aware of. The first is the area at the front of the tractor-trailer. Despite the tractor-trailer driver being up so high, there is a limit to how much they can see over the front end of the truck. This means they have limited visibility extending several feet in front of their vehicle. Cars in this zone are not visible to the truck driver and, thus, they are vulnerable. Being so close to the front end of a tractor-trailer is dangerous in and of itself considering how long it takes a tractor-trailer to slow down or come to a stop. Braking on such a large, heavy vehicle takes time. Cars in the front no-zone stand to suffer an intense rear impact should sudden braking be necessary.
On the opposite side of the tractor-trailer is another no-zone. The rear no-zone of a truck is the area at the back of the truck that is a blind spot to the truck driver. Cars traveling behind a tractor-trailer should leave more than several feet of space between their vehicle and the rear end of the truck. The driver will not be able to see them otherwise. On top of this, should the truck need to brake suddenly, the vehicle behind the truck risks more than just a rear-end accident. Cars and vehicles lower to the ground than tractor-trailers can become wedged underneath the truck as it is raised up much higher than other vehicles. The consequences of such an accident can be devastating.
The other tractor-trailer no-zone falls to the driver’s side of the truck. Drivers in this no-zone are not visible to the truck driver. Should the truck need to change lanes or swerve suddenly, drivers in this area are at serious risk. The last no-zone of a tractor-trailer falls on the passenger side of the tractor-trailer and it is the largest in size of the four no-zones. The no-zones on either side of the tractor-trailer should be avoided at all costs. Should you need to pass the truck, do so quickly and try to do so on the truck’s driver’s side as the no-zone is significantly smaller on that side.
Contact Our Expert Los Angeles Truck Accident Attorneys Today!
There are certain inherent risks with driving. That being said, there are steps we can all take to keep each other safer on the road. If you have been injured due to the negligence of someone else, Compass Law Group is here to see to it that you are properly compensated for your losses. Contact us today.
