Blind Spots

Defensive driving is all about being aware of the other vehicles and objects on the road around you, giving you the opportunity to react appropriately to avoid an accident. But what if you can’t see that other vehicle or they can’t see you?

Newer vehicles today, with their aerodynamic designs and styling, seem to create a lot of blind spots for the driver. A car typically has blind areas at the sides near the rear of the vehicle. Larger vehicles, such as tractor-trailer rigs, buses or campers have a greater depth of blind spot area.

Be aware of blind spots in your vehicle & avoid these additional blind spot areas when traveling near large trucks.

To help avoid blind spots, your vehicle’s mirrors must be adjusted correctly. Mirrors are to be adjusted to see the surrounding vehicles, not the back and down the side of your own vehicle.
The cabin’s center rearview mirror is used to keep an eye on what is coming up from behind, while the outside mirrors reflect the area outside the view of the inside rearview mirror.

Adjust the side mirrors so far outward that the viewing angle of the side mirrors just overlaps that of the cabin’s rearview mirror. This may take a bit to get used to, but it will greatly help with reducing your blind spots. Cars behind you should appear to move cleanly from one mirror to the next. Cars will move seamlessly between rearview and side mirrors, then shift into your peripheral field of view.

But even with properly adjusted mirrors, it is critical to take two additional precautions to avoid an accident while driving:

• Use your turn signal early to make other drivers aware of your intentions to change paths.
• Turn your head and look in the direction to where you are about to switch lanes or turn.

Sources:

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15131074/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-avoid-blind-spots/

https://www.truckingwatchdog.com/wp-content