Assumptions you should not make about truck blind spots

On Behalf of | Nov 8, 2018 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

Understanding what a truck driver is likely to see on a Georgia highway is crucial to keeping yourself safe. You might make assumptions about what the trucker sees that could be incorrect. If you should swerve into the truck’s blind spot, the truck driver may not see you and could collide with your vehicle.

Driversed.com explains that you should not assume that a truck driver has a better view of the road simply because the truck stands higher from the ground. It is true that a truck driver has greater visibility out in front of the truck itself. However, the trucker will still possess blind spots that an approaching motorist may enter.

You might have noticed that trucks possess large side view mirrors. It is easy to assume that a trucker can use these mirrors to get a good view of what is going on behind the truck and off to the sides. However, the truth is that these big mirrors are not enough to give truckers a full view of the area surrounding the truck.

Some Georgia motorists may opt to just stay directly behind a truck, but according to Truckers Report, this move poses some risks. Sticking close to a truck invites the chance that the tires of the truck could kick up debris onto your vehicle. Motorists should also not tailgate a truck. Odds are a truck driver will not know you are close behind. If the trucker has to suddenly stop, it could cause you to slam into the back of the truck.

Finally, while truckers can implement accessories on their vehicles to reduce their blind spots, such as installing fish-eye mirrors, cameras, sensors and audible tones, do not presume that the truck you are closing in on possesses those devices. While truck drivers can minimize blind spots through these methods, ultimately all a Georgia motorist approaching a truck can do is drive defensively to prevent a serious motor vehicle accident.