Truckers blind spots?

The old signs and saying that if you can't see me, I can't see you,or if you can't see my mirrors, Ican't see you, does mostly apply to the blind spot directly behind the truck. DO NOT ever assume that a truck driver sees you just because you can see his/ her mirrors.

Truckers use spot mirrors (convex mirrors) to see most of their blind spots, but there are a few that no mirror will let you see. When seated in the driver's seat of a truck, the biggest two blind spots are 25-50 feet directly behind the truck and from 6-8 feet out extending to the side of the road down the entire right side of the truck. The other major blind spots are : directly in front of the truck.Different distances for different trucks, but at least 10 -15 feet directly in front of the truck. Some trucks, more than a car length. And anywhere from 6-8 feet behind the drivers door and out to the side as far as you can go. Another one is the right front corner of the truck to slightly behind the passenger side door. One other one that gets a lot of people in wrecks that nobody even thinks about is behind the mirrors of the truck. A lot of times when a truck is sitting at an intersection, a car approaching from the side will be hidden behind the truck mirrors. A truck driver always has to remember to look around the mirrors before pulling out.

When driving around big trucks, you have to keep in mind that the truck driver has to keep up with what is going on, in front, on both sides, in the rear, over head, on both sides of the road, the speedometer, and what ever else he has to be doing all at once. Unless you actually make eye contact with the driver, don't ever assume he/she sees you. He/She very well may not. And NEVER walk past the front of a truck that is sitting still unless you make eye contact with the driver and you are certain that they see you. They may be getting ready to move the truck. Truck drivers actually forget to do this a lot at truck stop fuel islands.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has adopted the name NO ZONE for all blind spots on commercial vehicles. Below are two web addresses that you can check out to further educate yourself on how to stay out of the NO ZONE.

Promote Wreck less driving by staying out of the NO ZONE.

Semi Truck Blind Spots

You got part of it right ucantseeme. The blind spot of "if you can't see the driver in his mirrors, he can't see you" refers the the blind spot directly BEHIND the trailer, not a side blind spot. This is a good rule of thumb to follow to see if you are following too closely when behind a semi.

As already stated, there are numerous blind spots all around a semi. Directly in front of the hood of a conventional truck (a cab over style doesn't have a front blind spot since you have no hood projecting in front of the windshield), on both sides of the semi starting at the front fenders & continuing back past the drive axles & directly behind the trailer.

The blind spot on the passenger side of a semi is so large that a 2 STORY HOME can be hidden in it, & is one of the greatest reasons why it is practically suicide to pass a semi on the right (referring to signs on the back of some trailers with an arrow pointing left & the words "passing side" & an arrow pointing right with the word "suicide")

**see photo below**

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm161/george00_...

This link shows a diagram of where the blind spots are located around a commercial vehicle.

http://www.ontruck.org/info/sharing/docs/rstip11.p...

It all depends on how many mirrors they have, where they are located, and in what position they are adjusted.

Most trucks don't have enough mirrors, and the drivers don't know how to adjust them correctly. Just as demonstrated by this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP-NIUL6LzY

And the "If you can't see me, I can't see you" sign they are talking about - only partly true.

And yes, a small car or motorcycle could possibly "hide" in the blind spot in front (and about 1/2 a car width to the right) of the truck's (with an extended conventional hood) front bumper - but that would be WAY too close.

The main thing for 4 wheel vehicle drivers to remember is, in a collision between a big truck and a car, the truck ALWAYS wins.

So, give trucks plenty of room, and don't stay too close to them for very long.

Good Luck and Stay Safe

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RE:

Truckers blind spots?

are truckers able to check these, and someone told me they have blind spots in front of them??!! is that true??

There are several blind spots when driving a tractor trailer. And yes, there is one in front... just to the right of your tractor... beside the passenger door. It is possible to not see a smaller or low vehicle there as it is just under the side mirror. Also depending on the design of the tractor, it may be hard to see what is exactly in front of the hood. You could easily lose sight of a person walking/standing in front of your tractor.

Best bet is to give trucks plenty of room... and don't pass on the right.

Yes........

Side blind spot: Be careful when passing a large vehicle. If you can't see the driver's face in his or her side mirror or window, he or she can't see you and may not know you're there.

Front blind spot: When passing a large vehicle, make sure that you can see the entire front of the truck or bus in your inside rear-view mirror before you pull back in front. It takes a large vehicle twice the time and room to stop as it does a car.

the part in your mirrors where you cant see. its by the back seat/bumper area.