Getting into an accident with any vehicle has the potential to be traumatic. However, the bigger the vehicle, the larger the threat. 
 
Some of the largest vehicles on the road are semi trucks. If you are driving a regular passenger vehicle, it is important to understand how to drive around these behemoths. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, it is vital to stay out of a truck’s blind spots. 
 
Where are the blind spots on a truck? 
 
It is never a good idea to spend a lot of time driving in anybody’s blind spot, but many drivers of passenger vehicles do not understand exactly how large a semi truck’s blind spots are. The blind spots of a semi extend 20 feet in front of the vehicle and 30 feet behind it. The blind spot on the left side of a semi truck extends over one lane, while on the right side it extends over two. 
 
These large blind spots mean that you need to pay a lot of attention when trying to pass or merge lanes around a semi truck. 
 
How can I pass a semi truck safely? 
 

You should always pass a semi truck on the left-hand side. Of course, passing on the left is general best practice, but since the blind spot on the right side of a semi is so large, you should never pass a semi on the right. 
 
Once you have passed the semi, you want to avoid the 20-foot blind spot at the front. Also, remember that if the semi truck needs to stop it will have a greater level of velocity as compared to a passenger car, so semi trucks need more space to slow down.