Driving Tips > Safety Columns
Sharing the road with trucks
Truck drivers are trained professionals behind the wheel, but they have large blind spots. That's why all drivers need to know how to drive safely around transport trucks.
Blind spots
Never tailgate a transport truck – they have a 60-metre blind spot behind them. Truck drivers can only see what's visible in their side-view mirrors. Avoid driving beside transport trucks on multi-lane highways as they have large blind spots on both sides called "No Zones".
A transport truck's engine compartment creates a blind spot or "No Zone" in front of the driver large enough to hide a small car. If there's a transport truck behind you and you can't see its front window in your rear-view mirror, the driver can't see you.
Heavy weight = longer stopping time
It takes more than the length of a football field for the average transport
truck travelling 90 km/h to stop. So when passing, leave room in front of
the truck before changing back into the lane. Be prepared for strong side
gusts and keep two hands on the steering wheel when passing or being
passed by a transport truck.
Wide turns
Large trucks sometimes swing when making a left or right turn. When a truck is signalling a turn, give it room.
For more information, watch The 60-Second Driver on CTV, see the following topics in our website:
- Blind Spots in Driving Tips
- No-Zone in Road Safety / Other Issues
- You can access the 60-Second Driver video on Blind Spots directly
