Driving Tips 101: Understanding Car Blind Spots
The Menace Of Car Blind Spots
Although many people believe that accidents usually occur due to a driver’s incompetence, the reality is slightly more complex. Even the best of drivers can miss what they are unable to see. Even though vehicles today feature modern mirrors, cameras, and sensors, the menace of car blind spots still haunts drivers. They are often the cause of lane change collisions, side swipe accidents, and near misses on busy roads.
That’s why it’s absolutely necessary for drivers, both experienced and fresh, to understand how to deal with them. Knowing how to address this helps keep the driver as well as others on the road safe. Their occurrence of car blind spots is inevitable regardless of how many advancements are introduced. The only way to deal with it is to learn how to manage and live with it.
What Are Car Blind Spots?
Before we move forward, let’s first define what they are essentially. They’re areas around a vehicle that cannot be seen by the driver using standard mirrors or a direct line of sight. The most worrying aspect of them is that even the most experienced drivers can overlook them.
Hence, it is essential to understand and manage them. Moreover, these zones exist due to vehicle structure, mirror limitations, seating position, and the geometry of human vision. They pose a threat because of the following reasons:
- They often contain other vehicles, motorcycles, cyclists, or pedestrians
- Drivers may change lanes, assuming the area is clear
- Objects in these spaces can appear suddenly. Thereby, leaving little reaction time
Why Do They Exist in Every Car
No matter how large or small the vehicle, this blindness is unavoidable. However, it is important to mention that SUVs and trucks tend to have larger space to manage. This is due to their height and width. Meanwhile, smaller cars may have these unseen areas caused by roof pillars and compact mirror placement. They occur because of the following reasons:
- Vehicle pillars (A, B, and C pillars)
- Mirror limitations
- Seat height and driving position
- Vehicle shape and size
- Traffic speed and angles
Where Are They Often Found?
A common question many new drivers ask is where can these hard to sight spaces be found. Though their exact location varies by vehicle size and model, some locations are common.
1. Rear Side: Arguably, the most frequently cited of all the others. They are located just behind the driver and passenger doors, slightly to the left and right of the vehicle. Vehicles travelling in these areas may result in the following:
- Disappear from the side mirrors
- Not yet appear in peripheral vision
It is especially dangerous during lane changes
2. Front Pillar: These are located in the thick A-pillars on either side of the windshield. They are particularly risky when turning or navigating roundabouts. They can hide the following:
- Pedestrians
- Cyclists
- Small vehicles at intersections
3. Rear: They are often located behind the car and are often invisible when reversing. They hold a significant problem in sedans and vehicles with small rear windows.
4. Front: The hood and dashboard of a vehicle can block objects close to the front bumper. These include the following:
- Small children
- Low obstacles
- Parking curbs
Why Are They Incredibly Risky
They hold a significantly higher threat when drivers depend heavily on mirrors or make assumptions about surrounding traffic. Motorcycles are especially vulnerable because they are smaller and easier to miss in tight spaces. A driver’s instinct should always remain sharp and aware of their surroundings. Hence, they can avoid common accident scenarios such as:
- Changing lanes into a vehicle hidden in an unseeable area.
- Turning at intersections without seeing a pedestrian
- Reversing into an unseen obstacle
- Merging onto highways without a shoulder check
What Are the Most Common Spaces?
Although they vary by vehicle and design, there are a few common places that frequently come up. These include the following:
When drivers ask what are the most common ones, the answer usually includes the following:
- Left and Right Rear: They are often the cause of the majority of lane-change accidents. Additionally, if the vehicles are travelling at similar speeds, they can remain hidden for several seconds.
- A-Pillar: Although not frequently mentioned, they can hide entire pedestrians when the driver’s head position does not change.
- Rear Corner: The rear corners of SUVs and hatchbacks can block visibility when reversing out of parking spaces.
How to Reduce Them Using Mirrors
Now that we understand what they are and the threat they pose, let’s see how to address them. Though these spaces cannot be eliminated entirely, proper mirror setup can significantly reduce them.
1. Side Mirror Adjustment:
- Tilt the side mirrors outward slightly
- Ensure minimal overlap between rearview and side mirrors
- Adjust mirrors while seated in a normal driving position
If adjusted correctly, vehicles leaving the rearview mirror should immediately appear in a side mirror.
2. Rearview Mirror:
- The rearview mirror should frame the entire rear window. Many people make the mistake of not focusing on their own car interior.
- Correct mirror positioning minimizes blindness of spaces and improves reaction time.
The Role of Shoulder Checks
Even though mirror adjustment is ideal, the importance of shoulder checks should not be overlooked. It involves briefly turning your head to visually confirm them before performing any of the following actions:
- Changing lanes
- Merging
- Turning
- Overtaking cyclists or motorcyclists
Conclusion
All in all, there’s no way that car blind spots will disappear soon, regardless of how advanced the vehicles become. Their occurrence is a consequence of the shape of the vehicle more than anything else. That’s why understanding them and managing them is a key skill that every driver on the road should possess. Not only does it keep the driver safe from all possible accidents, but it also keeps others secure as well. Hence, leading to a significant reduction in accidents and damages. Making driving a calming, enjoyable experience.
FAQs
A: They are areas around the vehicle that cannot be seen using standard mirrors or direct vision. Moreover, they are often located on the sides, front pillars, and rear.
A: They can occur in various spots. However, they are commonly located in a few places. These include behind the driver and passenger sides, near the front windshield pillars, and close to the front bumper.
A: The most frequently cited are the left and right rear side areas. Additionally, the front A-pillar points at intersections are frequently mentioned as well.
A: The six locations refer to a set of frequently mentioned positions.. These include the left rear, right rear, left front pillar, right front pillar, directly behind the vehicle, and in front of the vehicle.