Clifford E. Cardone Transportation Law Blog on Lawyers.com

How to Avoid Tractor Trailer Blind Spots

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 by Clifford E. Cardone

It is hard to miss seeing a tractor trailer in your mirrors when you are driving near one, but it is very easy for a truck driver to miss seeing you. It is especially easy when car designs are getting smaller. Many tractor trailer accidents in Louisiana are caused by the large blind spots in the front, rear and sides of the semi truck, so driving smart is vital to avoiding tractor trailer accidents.

Where are those blind spots?

Can you see him? Chances are if you cannot see the truck driver’s face in his mirrors, you are in one of his blind spots. He will not be able to see you in a blind spot and there are several you should know about. Knowing where they are on a truck can help you avoid a trucking accident in Louisiana.

Front

Because the driver sits very high in the tractor cab, there is a large blind spot in front of the truck. A driver is not able to see immediately in front of the vehicle. Recent UK news footage of a tanker truck pushing a small vehicle on the highway at sixty miles per hour demonstrates the inability of the driver to see small objects directly in front of the cab of the truck.

Rear

There is another large blind spot at the rear of the truck. If you follow a truck too closely, the driver will not be able to see you in his mirrors. This is due to the length of the trailer and the angles of the mirrors. Some people like to follow close to trucks, so they can use the truck’s draft to save on gas costs. What if the truck driver does not know you are there and stops quickly? Are a few pennies worth the risk? Increase your following distance to prevent serious consequences.

Sides

Mirrors mounted on the cab and fenders of the tractor help to eliminate some of the blind spots on both sides of the tractor trailer, but due to the length of the trailer it is impossible to eliminate all blind spots on the sides. Many tractor trailer accidents occur during lane changes or right turns, so take care to avoid driving next to tractor trailer trucks.

Contact us

Contact Cardone Law Firm, a Louisiana truck accident law firm, if you are involved in a blind spot accident. We will investigate and pursue recovery from the trucker for you.

Posted at 10:46 AM

Topic: Transportation