If driving close to a semi-truck makes you uncomfortable, you might feel justified by an eye-opening NHTSA statistic. The group reported that in 2020, almost 5,000 people were killed in accidents involving commercial trucks. You might be surprised to learn, though, that 78% of collisions or near-collisions with these large rigs are caused by passenger cars, according to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Blind spots are a big issue – and here’s a video that illustrates the problem well.

Truck drivers can’t always see you

A couple of months back, Good Morning America released a report showing filmed car accidents caused by passenger cars hanging out in semi-truck blind spots.

In both, drivers of an SUV and then a compact red sedan were navigating in the right front corner of the rigs. In the first crash, the at-fault motorist was the SUV. Likely, the semi-truck couldn’t even see the SUV merging into their lane, so they didn’t know to slow down and attempt to prevent the collision.

In the second video with a red sedan, the semi-truck didn’t see the compact car just outside its right front corner. The trucker merged, inadvertently tipping the red car into its grille. Thankfully, there were no fatalities or major injuries reported after either collision.

As it turns out, the most dangerous semi-truck blind spot is the right front of these rigs. Here, a trucker might not see anything within a three-lane range.

Sit in the driver’s seat of a semi-truck at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, and they’ll show you at least seven blind spots.

A couple of months ago, a Good Morning America reporter found herself inside the cabin of a semi-truck. In checking all mirrors and in front of the rig, everything looked clear. Shockingly, drone footage of the exercise exposes seven vehicles surrounding the semi.

Two motorcycles, three passenger cars, and two other semis are all parked in different blind spots.

Be aware of “no zones”

The institute warns drivers of semi-truck “no zones.” These are whole areas surrounding semi-trucks wherein the driver won’t likely see other vehicles.

On most commercial rigs with the trailer attached, there are four main “no zones:” 

• The direct front
• The left front window view
• The direct rear, going back quite a distance
• The right front window view

Keep in mind that since semi-tucks don’t have rearview mirrors, that “no zone” in the back can stretch 200 feet.

It’s critical to only pass semi-trucks on the left

This is because the left no-zone is so much smaller than the right “no zone.” Once you pass, experts advise motorists to wait until you can see the entire front end of the semi before you merge back over. This ensures you’re out of the direct-front “no zone.”