Large commercial trucks dominate Arizona highways like I-10, I-17, I-40, Loop 101, and Loop 202. When these vehicles share the road with passenger cars, visibility becomes a critical safety issue. One of the most misunderstood—and most dangerous—factors in serious truck accidents is the existence of truck blind spots, often referred to as “no-zones.”
Truck blind spot crashes frequently involve lane changes, merging, or stop-and-go traffic. These collisions are rarely simple accidents. They often raise questions about driver awareness, training, mirror use, speed, and whether the truck driver or carrier followed basic safety expectations.
Understanding how truck no-zones work helps explain why these crashes happen and why they are treated differently from ordinary car accidents.
What Are Truck Blind Spots (“No-Zones”)?
Truck blind spots are areas around a commercial truck where the driver cannot see other vehicles, even when mirrors are properly adjusted. These areas are significantly larger than blind spots on passenger cars due to the truck’s size, height, and trailer length.
The trucking industry commonly refers to these blind spots as no-zones because vehicles traveling in these areas are at heightened risk of being struck during lane changes or turns.
Where Truck No-Zones Exist
Truck blind spots surround nearly every side of a commercial truck.
Common no-zones include:
- Front no-zone: The area directly in front of the cab, where smaller vehicles can disappear from view
- Rear no-zone: The space directly behind the trailer, where following vehicles are invisible
- Right-side no-zone: The largest blind spot, extending multiple lanes wide
- Left-side blind spot: Smaller than the right side, but still significant
To make this clearer, here’s how truck blind spots compare to passenger vehicles.
Visibility Comparison: Passenger Vehicles vs. Commercial Trucks
| Feature | Passenger Vehicle | Commercial Truck |
| Blind spot size | Small, mirror-adjustable | Large, fixed blind zones |
| Rear visibility | Rearview mirror | No rear visibility behind trailer |
| Right-side visibility | Limited but manageable | Major blind zone |
| Lane-change risk | Moderate | High when vehicles linger |
| Stopping distance | Shorter | Significantly longer |
These differences are why blind spot awareness is emphasized in commercial driver training.
Why Truck Blind Spots Create Serious Crash Risk
Truck blind spots are not just a visibility issue. They increase the likelihood of severe injuries when a collision occurs.
Lane-change and merge collisions
Many blind spot crashes happen when a truck changes lanes and sideswipes a vehicle the driver never saw. These crashes can push smaller vehicles into other lanes, barriers, or under the trailer.
Turning accidents
Wide right turns are especially dangerous. Vehicles positioned along the truck’s right side may be struck or pinned as the truck swings wide.
Stop-and-go traffic impacts
In congested traffic around Phoenix and other metro areas, vehicles frequently move in and out of blind spots. Sudden braking or lane shifts can lead to crushing or underride injuries.
Federal Safety Expectations for Truck Blind Spot Awareness
Federal trucking regulations require commercial drivers to operate their vehicles safely given known limitations, including blind spots. Drivers are expected to:
- Use mirrors properly
- Signal lane changes well in advance
- Check surrounding traffic before merging
- Avoid abrupt lane changes in congested areas
Truck blind spots are a well-recognized safety issue in commercial trucking. Drivers are trained to understand that large trucks have limited visibility and that these blind areas increase the risk of lane-change and turning collisions. Because these limitations are known, commercial drivers are expected to take additional precautions in traffic, including careful mirror use, gradual lane changes, and heightened awareness in congested areas.
This distinction matters in injury claims because blind spot crashes are not random or unforeseeable events. They arise from a known risk associated with operating large commercial vehicles, and that risk is expected to be managed through training, experience, and safe driving practices.
How Truck Blind Spot Accidents Differ From Car Accidents
Blind spot truck accidents differ from ordinary vehicle collisions in several important ways.
Size and force disparity
A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Even low-speed impacts can cause catastrophic injuries to occupants of smaller vehicles.
Limited driver visibility
Unlike passenger car drivers, truck drivers rely entirely on mirrors. If a vehicle is in a no-zone, the driver may have no direct line of sight.
Greater responsibility on commercial drivers
Because blind spots are well-documented, commercial drivers are expected to take additional precautions when changing lanes or turning.
Fault and Liability in Truck Blind Spot Crashes
Liability in blind spot truck accidents often depends on whether the driver or trucking company took reasonable steps to account for known visibility limitations.
Factors commonly examined include:
- Whether the truck driver checked mirrors properly
- Use of turn signals and timing of lane changes
- Speed relative to traffic conditions
- Driver training on blind spot awareness
- Company safety policies and enforcement
- Dash camera or onboard data
In many cases, blind spot crashes raise issues of commercial trucking negligence, especially when drivers make unsafe lane changes in heavy traffic.
Why Blind Spot Crashes Often Cause Severe Injuries
Truck blind spot accidents frequently result in serious or catastrophic harm, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crush injuries
- Multiple fractures
- Fatal injuries
Side-impact and underride scenarios are particularly dangerous because passenger vehicles offer little protection when struck by a large truck at an angle.
When Blind Spot Crashes Involve Hazardous Materials Trucks
Blind spot collisions carry added consequences when the truck involved is transporting hazardous materials. A sideswipe or sudden lane-change impact can lead to loss of vehicle control, cargo instability, or secondary events such as fires or chemical releases. Because hazardous materials trucks are subject to stricter safety requirements, blind spot crashes involving these vehicles often raise additional concerns about risk management and regulatory compliance beyond the initial collision itself.
Arizona Roads and Blind Spot Risk
Arizona’s highway system creates specific challenges for blind spot safety:
- High-speed interstates with heavy truck traffic
- Long stretches of desert driving that encourage speed
- Congested metro corridors during peak hours
- Tourist traffic unfamiliar with truck behavior
Routes like I-10 through Phoenix and I-40 across northern Arizona see frequent lane-change activity, increasing the likelihood of blind spot-related collisions.
What Drivers Can Do to Reduce No-Zone Risk
While truck drivers carry the primary responsibility for managing blind spots, passenger vehicle drivers can reduce risk by:
- Avoiding lingering beside large trucks
- Passing trucks quickly and safely
- Staying visible in mirrors
- Giving trucks extra space in traffic
Even with these precautions, blind spot crashes still occur—often because the truck driver failed to account for surrounding traffic.
FAQs About Truck Blind Spots and No-Zones
What is a truck no-zone?
A truck no-zone is a blind spot around a commercial truck where the driver cannot see other vehicles using mirrors alone.
Where are the largest truck blind spots?
The largest blind spot is on the right side of the truck, followed by the area directly behind the trailer.
Who is usually at fault in a truck blind spot accident?
Fault depends on the circumstances, but truck drivers are expected to account for known blind spots when changing lanes or turning.
Why are blind spot truck crashes so dangerous?
The size and weight of commercial trucks, combined with limited visibility, make blind spot crashes more likely to cause severe injuries.
Do blind spot crashes involve special trucking rules?
Yes. Federal safety regulations recognize blind spots as a known hazard and require drivers and carriers to manage that risk.
Why Truck Blind Spots Demand Greater Accountability
Truck blind spots are not a hidden danger. They are a known, well-documented risk that comes with operating large commercial vehicles. When drivers and trucking companies fail to respect these limitations, the consequences often fall on people in much smaller vehicles who had little chance to avoid harm. Understanding how no-zones work helps clarify why these crashes occur and why accountability matters when safety expectations are ignored.