A Big Truck's Blind Spots: When The Motorcycle Beside It Simply Isn't In The Mirror

Many riders assume a truck driver can always see them. In reality, a large truck has wide blind areas on its left side, in front and behind, and that is exactly where motorcycles most often get clipped.

This scene plays out every day on national highways and city streets. A loaded truck moves slowly, and a few motorcycles slip along its left side, waiting for a gap to overtake. The riders feel safe because there seems to be enough room and the truck is not going fast. The problem is that, from the driver's seat, those motorcycles may be completely invisible.

Large trucks have what are called blind spots, areas around the vehicle that neither the mirrors nor the driver's direct view can cover. The largest is usually on the left side, because the driver sits on the right and has to look across the cab. Other blind spots sit right in front of the bumper, especially on trucks with tall cabs, and behind a long, enclosed cargo body. The longer the truck, the wider the area that goes unseen.

The danger appears when the truck turns left, changes lanes, or pulls away from a traffic light. When it turns, the rear of the truck also cuts into the corner, so a motorcycle on the left can be squeezed between the rear wheels and the kerb. At a red light, a motorcycle that stops right in front of a tall truck's bumper may not be visible at all when the truck starts moving.