Driving Safely Around Trucks: Washington Driver’s Guide - Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC.

Content Legally Reviewed By

Matt Conner

Washington has a robust economy that relies on a massive network of commercial trucks, specialized heavy-haul vehicles, and oversized-load carriers to distribute goods from a range of industries, hauling goods to and from marine ports, timberlands, agricultural fields, construction sites, aerospace manufacturing plants, and regional wholesale warehouses. Knowing how to drive safely around trucks is an important part of sharing the roadways with thousands of commercial trucks every single day.

Whether you are commuting along the busy I-5 corridor through Puget Sound, hauling equipment across Snoqualmie Pass, or driving past agricultural transport on I-90 in Eastern Washington, maneuvering near an 80,000-pound semi-truck can make you feel tense.

When a standard passenger car collides with an 18-wheeler, the physics are rarely in the car driver’s favor. However, if you learn how to drive safely around trucks, the experience can be less stressful. You can reduce the risk of a collision when you understand how a truck operator experiences the road, from their vast blind spots and extended stopping distances to the specific mechanics of safe passing.

Our team at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner has spent decades guiding injured clients through complex claims against commercial trucking companies and their insurers following semi-truck collisions. We have seen firsthand how dramatically a crash can upend your life, and we can help you pursue compensation while you focus on your recovery when a truck is involved.

The best accident outcome is preventing one from happening in the first place. Read on for practical guidance to help you become a safer driver around trucks on Washington’s highways.

How Can Knowing a Truck’s Blind Spots Help You Prevent a Dangerous Collision?

Becoming aware of a commercial truck’s blind spots and “no-zones” can help avoid dangerous collisions by giving you the situational awareness necessary to adjust your driving and remain visible. Commercial trucks are considerably larger and longer than passenger vehicles, resulting in large blind spots where the driver may not see your vehicle. By leaving extra space around these areas, you and the truck driver each have a buffer in which to react to sudden braking, a tire blowout, or severe weather.

The key truck “no-zones” to avoid include:

The sides. The sides, particularly the right side, have a blind spot that covers two lanes of traffic and reaches a long way back from the cab. If you know about this, you can avoid side-swipe collisions when a truck changes lanes or turns.
The rear. The rear blind spot of a semi-trailer can extend behind the trailer. By avoiding tailgating, you help prevent underride collisions, that is, situations where a smaller car slides under the trailer when the truck stops suddenly, and make it possible for the driver to see you in their side mirrors.
The front. This area stretches out about 20 feet in front of the truck’s hood. You may be able to avoid rear-end collisions by not cutting in front of the truck until you can see the truck in your rear-view mirror and can leave ample space.

In areas where a wide right turn is permitted, semi-trucks often have to swing left to make a right, so drivers should be aware of this to avoid being caught between the truck and the roadside.

What Should You Do If You Realize Your Vehicle Is Traveling Inside a Truck’s Blind Spots or No-Zones?

If you realize your vehicle is traveling inside a truck’s blind spot or no-zone, the following steps may be able to help you clear the area safely:

Adjust your speed to relocate. Either accelerate safely to pass the truck, or ease off the accelerator to let the truck move ahead until you are clear of its blind spots.
Pass safely on the left. If you choose to pass, do so without lingering on the driver’s side, where the blind spot is significantly smaller than on the passenger side. If traffic allows, do not linger alongside the trailer.
Establish mirror visibility. Look for the truck’s side mirrors. If you cannot see the driver’s face in their side mirror, assume they cannot see you, and adjust your position until you can.
Maintain extra following distance. If you are behind the truck, back off until you can clearly see both of the truck’s side-view mirrors. This moves you out of the rear no-zone and gives you a view of the traffic ahead.
Allow ample space before merging. If passing, do not cut back in front of the truck until you can see the entire front of the truck in your rearview mirror. This ensures you are out of the front No-Zone and leaves sufficient stopping distance.
Avoid sudden actions. Stay predictable. Avoid quick speed changes or sudden lane switches that could surprise the truck driver while you are out of their line of sight.

Safely sharing the road with trucks helps to prevent catastrophic injuries.

What Should You Know While Sharing the Road with Trucks?

For the safety of all drivers, truck drivers must abide by state and federal regulations. At the federal level, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations establish important standards, such as limits on the number of hours drivers can work to avoid fatigue, strict schedules for vehicle maintenance, procedures for drug and alcohol testing, and standards that drivers must meet.

Even with strict laws in place, it is necessary to exercise greater care when driving alongside large trucks in Washington because of their unique braking limitations, speed changes, and visibility issues. The following are some practical points to keep in mind when sharing the road with trucks:

Speed and stopping differences. The speed limit in Washington for cars on rural sections of I-90 or I-5 is 70 MPH; large commercial trucks tend to travel more slowly or take a lot longer to stop.
Mountain pass speed swings. On steep grades like Snoqualmie or Stevens Pass, heavily loaded trucks slow down significantly while driving uphill. Conversely, they can pick up speed very quickly on downhill sections.
Extended stopping distances. A fully loaded tractor-trailer traveling at highway speeds needs approximately 200 additional feet to come to a complete stop compared to a passenger car.
Wet road hazards and tailgating. In western Washington, wet asphalt increases the risk of hydroplaning and lengthens braking distances for trucks. Tailgating can reduce visibility as the truck’s spray from the road washes over your windshield.
Sudden braking risks. On high-density routes like I-5 between Seattle and Tacoma, avoid slamming on your brakes in front of a truck; slow down early and brake smoothly when traffic permits.
Crosswind stability. Strong crosswinds in the Columbia River Gorge or on mountain bridges can cause high-profile trailers to sway, requiring you to grip the steering wheel firmly and maintain more clearance between your car and the truck.
Wide turning clearances. Trucks making sharp right turns at urban intersections in Spokane or Seattle often swing left first. Do not try to squeeze into the space between a turning truck and the curb.

Truck driver safety tips in Washington focus on anticipating hazards. Truck drivers should watch the road 15 seconds ahead, manage their large blind spots, and signal early to allow for their vehicle’s long stopping distances and wide turns.

What Does Safe Passing of Semi-Trucks Look Like?

Because of their enormous size, their tendency to take a long time to stop, and the blind spots inherent in semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles, safe passing of semi-trucks requires extra care.

If you can pass lawfully and safely, pass the truck on the left, since commercial trucks have much larger “no-zones,” that is, blind spots, on their right side and at the back.

Before moving back into the lane after overtaking, you must be able to see the truck in your rearview mirror and leave it enough space.

While carrying out a pass, it is important to keep your speed steady rather than lingering in a neighboring lane, since the blind spots next to the cab or trailer mean the truck driver may not be able to see passenger vehicles.

What Happens When Commercial Drivers Do Not Abide by Truck Driving Safety Regulations in Washington?

If commercial truck drivers in Washington do not comply with safety rules and state or federal regulations, the consequences can range from administrative penalties to serious civil or criminal penalties. The exact consequences will depend on whether a violation is found during a routine roadside inspection or results in a traffic collision.

For example, during roadside inspections conducted by the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, certain serious driver or equipment violations can result in an out-of-service (OOS) order. The driver or vehicle cannot operate until the violation is resolved. Other penalties may include:

License suspensions,
Regulatory fines,
Fleet carrier penalties, and
Criminal charges.

Courts may hold both the driver and the company liable for compensatory damages, including medical expenses, property damage, lost income, and pain and suffering, depending on the facts of the case. In cases involving reckless or impaired driving that causes substantial bodily injury or death, drivers could face felony criminal charges.

Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help After a Truck Accident?

Defensive driving can reduce your risk, but you may still be hurt when a commercial driver fails to follow safety rules. When you or a loved one is injured because of a truck driver’s or trucking company’s negligence, consulting a personal injury attorney can help uncover regulatory violations to establish liability and pursue compensation for your damages. Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner can analyze the incident, determine all available insurance policies, secure critical evidence, and outline your legal options for financial recovery.

What sets us apart is our years of experience helping individuals injured in commercial trucking accidents. We explain your legal options and let you decide how to move forward while we coordinate with medical providers about bills and handle the insurance adjusters. Reach out to Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner today for a free consultation.

Legal References Used to Inform This Page

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About the Author

Matt Conner

Matt Conner has a proven track record of success. Following his graduation from Willamette University with a double major in mathematics and economics, Matt worked as an economist for the Office of Economic Analysis for the State of Oregon before moving onto working in mortgage banking and real estate. Although Matt would move on to law school shortly thereafter, his experience in the financial sector has provided him with valuable experience in how to achieve maximum compensation for his clients.

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