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Don't Hang Out in the No‑Zone

The size and height of a truck creates four significant blind spots around the truck that other drivers should avoid whenever possible.

No-Zone Locations
No-Zone Locations

You might assume that truck drivers have a better view of the road because they sit up so much higher than other cars and have large side mirrors, but this isn’t true. The size and height of a truck creates four significant blind spots around the truck that other drivers should avoid whenever possible. These blind spots are also called “no-zones” and are located at the:

  • Front of the truck
  • Back of the truck
  • Left side of the truck
  • Right side of the truck

When your vehicle is in a no-zone, you essentially "disappear" from the truck driver's view. One-third of fatal crashes between cars and trucks occur in these four blind spots, so consider them to be danger zones.

Rule of thumb: the larger the vehicle, the larger the blind spots. If you can't see the truck driver in their mirrors, then the truck driver can't see you!

"Large trucks have not one but four blind spots, referred to as no-zones."

Good Morning America

No Passing in the Right No-Zone

The right no-zone is located on the passenger side of the truck and is a huge area where the truck driver can't see you at all..

Depending on the size of the truck, the right no-zone can be three lanes wide and as long as the trailer. When you need to pass a truck, do not pass on the right. It's the most dangerous area for passing, as you are essentially invisible to the truck driver the entire time you are in the no-zone!

The following clip shows just how invisible a vehicle is to the truck driver when it's in the right no-zone. Pay attention to the pickup approaching from behind on the passenger's side of the truck in the passenger's side blind spot view. The pickup is by no means a small vehicle. Even though the truck driver looks over towards his right-side mirror multiple times, he is completely unaware of the pickup as it comes up alongside his truck. As the truck driver begins to turn into the driveway, the pickup just manages to squeeze past and avoid a collision. A split second later and this incident would have ended very badly for the pickup driver.

Pass Steadily through the Left No-Zone

The left no-zone is located on the driver's side of the truck. While it is not large as the right no-zone, it is equally dangerous to linger in.

The only no-zone you should ever be in is the left no-zone and that's only when you're passing. One of the worst things you can do is to cruise alongside a truck in the no-zone, where you can't be seen. If you need to pass a truck, move through the left no-zone steadily until you're safely past.

This video clip shows a driver lingering in the left no-zone. Notice the vehicle approaching from behind and into the truck driver's side blind spot. Rather than moving forward or just passing the truck, this vehicle unnecessarily cruises alongside the truck in the left no-zone for an extended period. Traveling alongside a truck puts you in the dangerous situation of being sideswiped if the truck changes lanes or must swerve for any reason.

This video clip is an example of good road-sharing behavior. You'll notice a silver pickup truck approaching to pass from behind on the driver's side of the truck. Once the pickup enters the driver's blind spot (no-zone), it doesn't linger, keeps a steady pace, and passes through the left no-zone without incident.