The Four Blind Spots In A Car

by Jim on December 31, 2022

A vehicle’s blindspots are areas that obstruct a driver’s view of the road while seated. Typically, the degree of such visual impediments is determined by the size of the vehicle in question.

All cars have blind spots. However, over the years, car manufacturers have come a long way in downscaling these weak points, with the exception of older car models, which still pose a certain level of danger to passengers and other road users. This article will discuss four of the most common vehicle blind spots every driver should know about.

Larger vehicles have increased blind spots. SUVs, Jeeps and trucks will have more prominent blind spots due to their size compared to regular cars. While it’s essential to be cautious about blind spots when driving a car, twice as much caution is of the essence when operating even larger vehicles.

To minimize the dangers posed by blind spots, truck drivers need to know where their truck’s blind spots are. Usually, the scale and location of a vehicle’s blind spots have to do with its model. Below are four of the most common large truck blind spots to help you avoid a truck crash.

Side mirrors are designed to downplay the effects of blind spots by helping drivers see other vehicles and pedestrians around them, thereby avoiding blind spot accidents. Be it as it may, these essential car components are somewhat of an obstruction, making them the most significant blind spot of all.

While there is this widespread misconception that side mirrors eliminate all blind spots in a vehicle seeing as they help drivers see what’s behind them while driving, this is not entirely true. That area where the side mirror is fitted covers an area of the road when driving, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. This minor obstruction has led to many devastating accidents, sometimes resulting in permanent impairments.

The area at the back of a vehicle is considered a significant blind spot and often leads to rear-end collisions. Although by using rear mirrors, a small percentage of what lies behind can be seen by drivers, the other areas at a vehicle’s rear will remain a mystery while driving, which is one of the major causes of truck accidents. To counter this blind spot, recent car models are fitted with rearview mirrors.

A rearview mirror will allow drivers to see vehicles and objects behind them and in adjacent lanes.

While the A-pillars help demarcate between the front windshields, that is, the driver’s and passenger’s sides. They can, however, obstruct the driver in some situations. Although the A-Pillars are less likely to cause a blind spot accident like other blind spots in motor vehicles, they can however be a danger to drivers in the least likely scenarios.

Luckily, this is one blind spot that can easily be avoided with a slight head swing and with proper seating manners.

Front blind spots are more common in large passenger cars, large trucks, and vehicles that are above average in size. The high ground clearance caused by the size of such vehicles can be a disadvantage as it can prevent drivers from being able to see objects directly in front or not too far off from them.

Not all cars and trucks come with blind-spot warning systems. Cars designed with blind spot warning systems have inbuilt sensors that can detect close-range vehicles and also alert the driver about vehicles making sudden lane changes.

Although it’s perfectly fine to use your blind spot warning system and mirrors simultaneously, it’s best not to be too dependent on either one. Make sure to physically check your blind spots now and then, just in case.

How To Avoid A Blindspot

Some vehicles make it almost impossible to eliminate blind spots due to their mirror positioning and the complexity of their designs. However, there are a few easy techniques government entities, and trucking companies encourage that have helped reduce tractor-trailer and truck accident cases that may be applicable to all drivers regardless of the vehicle they drive.

1. Adjust Your Side Mirrors

Always ensure your mirrors are positioned properly when you get in the driver’s seat. Also, before driving a rental car make, check to see if the mirrors are positioned correctly. If not, do it yourself before you think of starting the car. To ensure your side mirrors are in the proper position, adjust them until you can see what’s at the back of your car and not the sides of your vehicle.

2. Look Over Your Shoulder

A straightforward and useful technique for covering blind spots is simply looking over your shoulder. If you don’t spot any nearby vehicles through your mirrors, you’ll be able to see them through your side windows if there are any around. It’s important to do this before you change lanes.

Remember that turning your head to look through your side windows should only be a last resort if your mirrors weren’t correctly positioned before driving or due to some sort of defect. Try to avoid looking over your shoulder as much as possible to avoid crashing into other vehicles or unsuspecting pedestrians. Most importantly, try to be aware of your surroundings at all times while driving, even while waiting on traffic-congested roads.

3. Wait To Pull Out

Since there’s a likelihood of truck drivers and other vehicles being in your blind spot, make sure to leave sufficient distance and signal first before changing lanes. This applies whether you’re driving regular cars or bigger SUVs. Doing this will help prevent oncoming vehicles from crashing into your car, which can lead to traumatic injuries.

It helps to check both mirrors first and wait for at least two seconds before making a move, as it’s more than enough time for any vehicle out of your line of sight to become visible through your side mirrors.

Conclusion

Just as it’s important to be vigilant of your car’s blind spots, it’s crucial to remain as visible as possible to other drivers because they also have their own blind spots to contend with, and since there’s no telling if they’ll be able to see your vehicle in a critical moment.