Don’t Hang Out in the No-Zone
Our roadways and highways are inherently dangerous places. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 2008 alone there were over 4,000 fatal crashes involving large trucks nationwide. This comes to about 11 deaths per day in accidents involving a large truck, or tractor-trailer. There were also more than 70,000 injuries in crashes involving large trucks, or about 200 injuries per day nationwide. In New York State, there were over 3,000 fatal and non-fatal crashes involving large trucks, with more than 100 of these resulted in fatalities.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) through its Share the Road Safely program offers information and suggestions to help make our roads safer.
One of the leading causes of large truck accidents is the blind spot. Large trucks and tractor-trailers have blind spots around the front, sides and rear of the truck. These areas are called “no-zones.”
As a general safety precaution FMCSA suggests that you don’t “hang out” in these blind spot areas when you are driving near a large truck. If you are driving in the blind spot the truck driver will not be able to see you!
Remember, if you can’t see the truck driver in his side-view mirror, he can’t see you. If the truck driver can’t see you, he may initiate a turn that could cause a serious accident and injury.
According to FMCSA, it is the occupant of a car, and usually the driver, that sustains approximately 80 percent of fatalities when there is a crash between a large truck and a car.
Please help make our roadways safer, and don’t drive in the no-zone.
Visit the Share the Road Safely to learn more and what you can do to help.
