2013 Oregon Driver Manual - Oregon Department of Transportation

To share the road safely, avoid driving directly behind a truck. Keep a
reasonable distance between your car and the truck ahead. You will have a
better view of the road to anticipate problems, and you will give yourself
an emergency “out.”
Many motorists falsely assume that truck and bus drivers can see the
road better because they sit higher than the driver of a small vehicle.
Although a truck or bus does enjoy a better forward view and has bigger
mirrors, it has serious blind spots into which a small vehicle can disappear
from view. An excellent rule for motorists sharing the road with trucks
and buses is: If you can’t see the truck or bus driver in the side mirror of
the truck or bus, the driver can’t see you. These blind spots represent areas
around trucks where crashes are more likely to occur.
• Side blind spots - Trucks and buses have much larger blind spots on
both sides of their vehicles than small vehicles. When you drive in
these blind spots truck and bus drivers cannot see you. If the truck or
bus driver needs to swerve or change lanes for any reason, a serious
crash could occur if any vehicle is in the blind spot.
• Rear blind spot - Unlike small vehicles, trucks and buses have deep
blind spots directly behind them. Avoid following too closely. The
truck or bus driver cannot see the vehicle in this position, and you
severely reduce your own view of traffi c fl ow. Following too closely
greatly increases your chance of a collision with a truck or bus.
• Unsafe passing - Another dangerous area is just in front of trucks and
buses. When vehicles cut in too soon after passing and then abruptly
slow down, trucks and buses are forced to compensate with little time
or room to spare.
It takes longer to pass a large vehicle.
Maintain a constant speed and be sure
you can see the entire cab of the truck or
bus in your rearview mirror before pulling
in front. Leave more space for trucks and
buses. Also, do not linger when passing a
truck or bus. By remaining in blind spots
OK
too long, you make it impossible for the
driver to safely take evasive action if an
obstacle appears in the road ahead.
• Turns - Truck and bus drivers often cannot see vehicles directly
behind or beside them when they are attempting to safely negotiate
a turn or roundabout. Observe their turn signals. Cutting in between
the truck or bus and the curb or shoulder increases the possibility
of a crash. Large vehicles may need to use more than one lane in a
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