Big Rig Blind Spots Pose a Risk to Oklahoma’s Road Users
Oklahoma’s scenic landscapes and wide-open highways make for a pleasurable drive. Unfortunately, these attributes don’t make it any less dangerous for motorists to share the road with large trucks. One of the biggest safety concerns that comes with sharing the road with these dangerous vehicles is commercial truck blind spots, which are commonly referred to as “No-Zones.” Vehicles in these areas are not visible at all to a truck driver, leaving the occupants of the smaller vehicle in serious danger of a collision.
Why Blind Spots Are Dangerous
All vehicles have blind spots, but those on commercial vehicles are particularly dangerous because there are so many of them and they’re so large. No-Zones are located:
- On either side of the trailer and extending several lanes outwards;
- Around 20 feet directly in front of the truck; and
- Nearly 200 feet behind the trailer.
Driving your car in any of these areas can put you in a very dangerous situation. Driving to the sides of a commercial vehicle, for instance, significantly increases your chances of being sideswiped by a truck driver who can’t see you. Those in the front no-zone, on the other hand, could end up rear-ended by a truck driver, who couldn’t stop his or her vehicle in time to avoid a collision. Finally, driving in the rear blind spot blocks a driver’s vision of what’s approaching on the road, decreasing reaction time if a truck suddenly stops.
Tips for Sharing the Road
Knowing the dangers posed by commercial truck blind spots is only the first step when trying to avoid a collision with a big rig. There are also a few strategies that motorists and other road users can employ when trying to drive safely near large trucks on Oklahoma’s many highways, such as:
- Maintaining a safe distance (at least four car lengths) between your own car and large trucks;
- Making decisive lane changes to get out of blind spots quickly;
- Making sure you have a clear view and that traffic will allow a safe lane change before passing a large commercial vehicle;
- Maintaining a steady speed and avoiding sudden braking and erratic lane changes;
- Signaling your intentions in advance; and
- Using your headlights to make your car more visible to other road users.
By remaining aware of big rig blind spots and by following these tips, Oklahoma road users can significantly reduce their chances of being involved in a collision with one of these large and dangerous vehicles.
Call or Contact Levinson Law, PC. Today
A little extra caution when sharing the road with big rigs can go a long way towards keeping drivers safe. Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee that a person won’t be involved in a truck or car accident. If you end up involved in such a collision through no fault of your own, don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced Tulsa trucking accident lawyers for help holding the trucking company accountable. Contact Levinson Law, P.C. at 918-492-4433 to learn more.
Sources:
trucksmart.udot.utah.gov/know-the-no-zones/
nhtsa.gov/share-road-its-everyones-responsibility
