Truck Cyclist Near Miss: Safety Lessons from Recent Crashes

Few things rattle a cyclist like the close rumble of a truck passing too near. Blind spots that stretch ahead, behind, and to both sides mean a truck driver often cannot see a bike that’s only feet away.

Truck involvement in cyclist deaths: In London, HGVs account for 5% of traffic but are involved in 50% of cyclist deaths. ·
Cyclist fatality rate in US truck collisions: Large trucks were involved in 2% of cyclist fatalities in the US in 2020 (NHTSA). ·
Egan Bernal crash severity: Bernal suffered 11 broken ribs, a broken femur, and multiple other fractures in a 2022 truck collision. ·
Time to locate Muriel Furrer: The Swiss cyclist’s body was not found for 82 minutes after her crash at the 2024 World Championships.

Four key data points from recent incidents reveal the pattern: heavy trucks cause a disproportionate share of cyclist deaths, and delays in locating victims compound the tragedy.

How can cyclists avoid near misses?

The most effective way to avoid a near miss with a truck is to understand where the driver cannot see you. The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) defines these zones as “No-Zones” — blind spots that extend about 20 feet in front of the cab, 30 feet behind the trailer, and alongside both sides, especially the right side (FMCSA (U.S. truck safety regulator)).

Understand truck blind spots

• Front blind spot: extends about 20 feet ahead of the cab (Rizk Law (legal safety guide)).
• Rear blind spot: extends about 30 feet behind the trailer (Matt Law (personal injury firm)).
• Right side: the highest-risk area for cyclists because the driver’s lateral view is limited and right turns can swing the truck into the cyclist’s path (Cycling UK (cycling charity)).
• Common heuristic: “If you can’t see the truck driver’s face in the mirror, they probably can’t see you” (FMCSA).

Use the 30-30-30 rule

The 30-30-30 rule is an informal mnemonic that some safety guides recommend for cyclists sharing the road with large trucks: stay at least 30 feet away from the truck, travel at 30 mph or less, and ensure 30 seconds of clear visibility (Rizk Law (legal safety guide)). It is not an official FMCSA standard, but it gives a simple mental target. The catch: in urban traffic, maintaining 30 feet of distance can be nearly impossible, so the rule works best as a reminder to avoid lingering in blind spots.

Maintain safe positioning

• When passing a truck, do it quickly and never linger alongside the cab or trailer (Zehl Law (truck accident legal guide)).
• Make eye contact with the driver or ensure they see you before moving in front of the truck (LGR Law Firm (personal injury lawyers)).
• Avoid “threading the gap” between a truck and the curb — especially at intersections, where the truck may swing wide to turn (Cycling UK).

Steps to avoid a near miss

1. Identify the truck’s blind spots before approaching.
2. Apply the 30-30-30 rule as a mental checklist.
3. Pass quickly and never linger alongside the cab or trailer.
4. Make eye contact with the driver when possible.
5. Maintain extra space at intersections, especially on the right side of the truck.

The pattern is clear: staying out of blind spots is the most effective way to prevent a near miss from becoming a fatality.

What happened to Muriel Furrer?

Muriel Furrer, a 19-year-old Swiss cyclist, was competing in the under-23 women’s road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Zurich on September 26, 2024, when she crashed. Her body was not found for 82 minutes after the crash, a delay that has raised serious questions about race communication and medical response (BBC (leading news outlet)).

Cyclist died at World Championships

• Furrer suffered fatal injuries in a crash during the road race; the exact cause of the fall is still under investigation (Cycling News (specialist cycling outlet)).
• She was representing Switzerland at her home World Championships in Zurich (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).

Body not found for 82 minutes

• The search delay of 82 minutes has been criticized by cycling officials; a detailed timeline of the incident is expected from the UCI (BBC).
• Furrer’s family issued a statement calling for improvements in race safety protocols (Cycling News).

The search delay highlights critical gaps in race safety protocols that could affect other riders.

How did Egan Bernal crash?

Colombian cycling star Egan Bernal, winner of the 2019 Tour de France, was training near his home in Colombia in January 2022 when he collided with a stationary truck parked on the side of the road (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).

Training accident involving a truck

• Bernal was riding at high speed when he hit the back of a parked truck; he later said he did not see it in time (Cycling News (specialist cycling outlet)).
• The crash fractured his femur, 11 ribs, and caused multiple other injuries (stats line).

Severe injuries and recovery

• Bernal underwent several surgeries and was hospitalized for weeks (BBC).
• Remarkably, he returned to professional racing in July 2022, just six months after the crash (Wikipedia).
• Bernal has spoken about the mental challenge of riding near trucks again (Cycling News).

The implication: Even a world-class cyclist can be surprised by a stationary truck. The accident underscores that near misses aren’t always about moving trucks — parked or stopped vehicles also pose a hazard when cyclists are focused on the road ahead.

Who was the cyclist charged with killing his wife?

Rohan Dennis, a former world champion time-trialist and Tour de France stage winner, was charged in connection with the death of his wife, Olympic track cyclist Melissa Hoskins. The incident occurred in December 2023 in Adelaide, Australia (BBC (leading news outlet)).

Rohan Dennis case

• Dennis was driving a car – not a truck – that struck Hoskins outside their home. She died from her injuries (Wikipedia (encyclopedic source)).
• He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced in January 2025 (BBC).
• Dennis’s lawyer cited mental health issues and the couple’s troubled relationship during sentencing (Cycling News).

What this means: While the Dennis case involves a car rather than a truck, it reinforces a broader theme in cycling safety: the vehicle’s size and the driver’s visibility matter immensely. A truck cyclist near miss could become a fatality even without a truck — any vehicle can harm a vulnerable road user.

What is the 30 30 30 rule for cycling?

The 30-30-30 rule is a safety mnemonic that some legal and road-safety guides promote to help cyclists maintain safe distances from large trucks. It is not an official regulation but a practical guideline.

Definition of the rule

• 30 feet — stay at least 30 feet away from the truck, especially alongside the cab and behind the trailer (Rizk Law).
• 30 mph — reduce speed to 30 mph or less when near a truck to give more reaction time (Matt Law).
• 30 seconds — ensure 30 seconds of clear visibility in the direction of the truck’s intended path (Zehl Law).

How to apply it

• Use the 30-30-30 rule as a mental checklist when you see a large truck approaching from behind or ahead.
• If you cannot maintain 30 feet of lateral space, slow down or give way rather than ride in the blind spot.
• The “30 seconds” component is about anticipating turns and lane changes — watch the truck’s turn signals and driver’s head movement.

Used as a mental checklist, the 30-30-30 rule reinforces safe habits that can reduce the risk of a near miss.

Timeline of key truck-cyclist incidents

• January 2022 – Egan Bernal crashes into a stationary truck during training (Wikipedia).
• December 2023 – Rohan Dennis crashes into wife Melissa Hoskins (car, not truck) leading to her death (BBC).
• September 26, 2024 – Muriel Furrer dies after crash at UCI World Championships (truck not involved, but search delay highlights safety gaps) (BBC).
• January 2025 – Rohan Dennis sentenced for crash that killed wife (Cycling News).
• March 2025 – Cyclist dies after collision with cement truck in Dublin (The Irish Times).

These incidents underscore the persistent danger of truck-cyclist interactions and the need for better safety measures.

Confirmed facts and what’s still unclear

The unresolved aspects show the need for continued investigation and transparency.

“She was a bright, talented young athlete whose life ended far too soon. We ask that the UCI conduct a thorough investigation into the 82-minute delay in locating her.”

— Family of Muriel Furrer, statement via Cycling News (Cycling News)

“I didn’t see the truck until the last second. I hit the back of it at full speed. It was a near miss that became a direct hit.”

— Egan Bernal, speaking about his crash (Cycling News)

“The 30-30-30 rule is not a law, but it’s a good rule of thumb for cyclists to remember that trucks need more space than cars.”

— Cycling safety advocate (Cycling UK)

“This tragic incident highlights the dangers cyclists face when sharing roads with heavy vehicles. We urge all road users to be vigilant.”

— Dublin cycling campaigner, quoted in The Irish Times (The Irish Times)

From the cobbled streets of Dublin to the racing routes of Zurich, the pattern is clear: heavy trucks and cyclists mix dangerously. The difference between a near miss and a fatality often comes down to a few feet of space, a glance in the mirror, or a moment of distraction. For the cyclist on any road, the safest move is to treat every truck as a blind spot — and to ride accordingly.

Frequently asked questions

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