In Georgia, it is quite common to share the road with large commercial trucks, especially along the major highways. When driving at a high rate of speed with a truck like this by your side, it is critical that you know that the truck driver sees you and your vehicle. If they cannot, because you are in the no-zone, you could be put at risk. If you suffer injuries in a crash, talk to a Newnan tractor-trailer accident lawyer.
The No-Zone Explained
The no-zone is a large blind spot on a commercial truck. These are areas where the truck driver at the wheel cannot see or has significant limitations on their ability to see a driver operating next to them. These zones include:
- The very front of the truck. The height of the hood of a commercial truck makes it hard for the driver to see someone standing there. This no-zone is about 20 feet directly in front of the truck’s cab.
- Left side. The left side of the truck, about halfway down the side of the vehicle, is another blind spot. The driver cannot see you in these areas with their mirrors.
- Right side. The driver’s size no-zone is one of the riskiest, as it is a large area that stretches the entire right side of the truck. It can extend outward across several lanes of traffic as well.
- Rear. At the very back of the truck, the driver may also suffer a blind spot, making it hard to see what is directly behind the trailer.
Many modern trucks have built-in cameras that reduce the size of these blind spots, but not always fully. And not all trucks have them. As a driver, then, it is up to you to try to stay out of these areas, so the driver does not merge into your vehicle when changing lanes.
Any large vehicle can have a no-zone, including school and public buses. These types of risks apply to anyone driving on the road with these large vehicles.
You Could Get In Trouble
Georgia law enforcement will stop a vehicle driving aggressively or unsafely in no-zones. That means it is your duty, at least in part, to stay out of these areas when possible. These laws also encourage drivers not to:
- Tailgate, or follow the vehicle too closely
- Cut off the commercial vehicle or bus, but instead keep one car length for every 10 miles per hour of speed between you when changing lanes
- Speed as speed makes it challenging for commercial trucks to gauge the amount of space they have or your presence
- Limit the commercial driver’s access to the road, but instead give them plenty of room to navigate around you
In these situations, law enforcement can issue a citation to you, the driver. For that reason, it is quite important to take steps to avoid such incidents.
Being Struck by a Commercial Vehicle
If a commercial vehicle strikes your vehicle, determining fault is essential. By working with a truck accident lawyer, you gain better insight into what your rights are and who to hold accountable for your losses. These are challenging cases to prove, and having access to our legal team of auto accident lawyers in Newnan can prove critical.
Being safe behind the wheel means staying out of no-zones. However, if one occurs due to the recklessness of another driver, seek legal guidance before you file a claim.