| What
are "No Zone" crashes and How Can They be Avoided?
In
1991, Congress directed the Federal Highway Administration (now
under the direction of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration),
to educate motorists how to safely share the road with big trucks.
The goal was to increase awareness of the danger areas around
commercial vehicles. These danger areas were called "no
zones" and represent blind spots in which cars disappear
from the view of the truck driver.
Research suggests that crashes between trucks and cars are
much more likely to occur in these "no zones." These
danger areas consist of the side no-zone, the rear no-zone,
and the front no-zone.
In a study using 1996 data, it was estimated that 32,500
crashes or 13% of all two vehicle crashes between passenger
vehicles and large trucks occurred in the front no-zone. Side
no-zone crashes approximated 21,500 of non intersection encroachments
and 10,500 intersection encroachments for a total of 12% of
the two vehicle crashes between trucks and cars. The rear
no-zone accounted for 25,000 crashes or 10% of these same
crashes.
The conclusions reached by the study indicate that of a total
258,000 crashes between a large truck and a passenger vehicle
in 1996 a total of approximately 89,500 crashes, or 35% occurred
within the no-zones. This translates into an estimated 30,500
personal injuries caused by no-zone crashes.
The major push in crash avoidance in the no-zone has centered
around educating motorists about no-zones. This includes identifying
where the no-zones are located and information on how to stay
out of these zones as much as possible. Moreover, if a motorist
is in a truck's no-zone, he should be more defensive and aware
of the fact that the truck driver likely cannot and does not
see him.
Many trucks have decals on the back of the rig which tell
motorists about the identity of the no-zones. They also caution
drivers who pass rigs on the right to be aware that the truck
makes wide right turns. This can avoid a side no-zone collision
on the right side with a passing motorist. Research suggests
that motorists would be less inclined to drive dangerously
in the vicinity of large trucks if they were better informed
about the trucks' limitations and capabilities.
Following too close to the large truck in his rear no-zone
has also been a topic of the no-zone campaign. Again, most
motorists do not realize that debris can fall from a truck
or be kicked up by its tires presenting a dangerous situation.
Driving that close also restricts visibility and limits reaction
time in an emergency.
Understanding and avoiding no-zones is the key to limiting
these devasting crashes.
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