Blind Spot Awareness: How to Stay Safe and Avoid Accidents
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A blind spot is any area around a vehicle, interior or exterior, that compromises a driver's field of vision. In many instances, blind spots occur in the areas directly behind and to the side of a vehicle.
Lack of awareness of blind spots in your car can lead to potential accidents. You can improve safe driving habits by familiarizing yourself with your vehicle and performing blind spot checks to assess the risks.
This guide addresses common causes of blind spots and details ways to identify them. Awareness of these hazards reduces the risk of accidents, keeping you, your loved ones, and fellow drivers safe.
Identify Common Causes of Blind Spots
The most common cause of a vehicle blind spot is its structure. Upright supports, or vehicle pillars, that carry the roof's weight often interfere with a driver's field of view. This obstruction may seem minimal or nonexistent until it compromises road safety.
A sideview or rearview mirror may appear to resolve car blind spot issues, but that's often not the case. The mirrors can actually contribute to blind spots because they don't offer a complete view of the area around your vehicle. In particular, mirrors may do a poor job of showing the areas directly beside and behind your car.
Your eyes themselves can also restrict your field of vision. Every eyeball has a natural blind spot where the retina and optic nerve connect that has no light-sensitive cells. You generally don't notice this spot because your two eyes have different fields of view. So your brain fills in any missing information from one eye with the vision from the other eye. The problem is that sometimes the brain makes up this missing information, preventing you from seeing what is actually there.
Recognize Vehicle Types With Larger Blind Spots
Generally, trucks, buses, SUVs, and minivans have larger blind spots than sedans or smaller vehicles. The taller the vehicle, the more and bigger the blind spot risks.
Trucks and buses are among the tallest road-ready vehicles. Their higher driving position makes it more challenging for drivers to see vehicles directly in front or in adjacent lanes.
SUVs and minivans tend to have large frames and pillars, which can make changing lanes or making turns particularly difficult. Blind spot mirrors — small convex mirrors that attach to side mirrors, allowing for a wider field of view — help reduce risks to road users.
Adjust Your Mirrors Correctly
To reduce the risk of a blind spot accident, it's essential to adjust your mirrors so that they show as much of the area around your car as possible. The correct mirror positions should show very little of your vehicle itself.
The rearview mirror is the easiest to set. Center the mirror and turn it left or right until you can see clearly through the entire back window. Focus on the road behind you, not the backseat.
The side mirrors are a little more tricky. To adjust the driver's side mirror, lean your head towards the driver's side window until it touches the glass. Then adjust the mirror until you just catch a glimpse of the side of your car.
Next, lean your head towards the center console to adjust the passenger mirror. Adjust the mirror until you can just see the side of the car.
Use a blind spot mirror for a more encompassing view. These mirrors are usually best for larger vehicles like trucks and buses.
Physically Check Blind Spots
Most modern vehicles include a blind spot monitoring system that notifies drivers when an obstruction is to the side or behind their car. However, older vehicles still require drivers to check for a blind spot physically.
Physically checking in blind spots while driving can feel awkward, especially for new drivers. The process involves turning your head and glancing over your shoulders, which momentarily takes your eyes off the road in front of you.
First ensure the road ahead is clear, then check your rearview and side mirrors. If everything looks clear, turn your head and look in the direction you want to go. Make sure no vehicles are next to you or approaching. Be aware of any interior obstructions, such as headrests, that might block your view.
Also, ask any passengers to help check around the car. Having another person in the vehicle is especially helpful when driving in a roundabout or other complex traffic situations.
Stay Aware, Stay Safe: Mastering Blind Spot Awareness on the Road
Part of safe driving practices is being aware of any blind spot danger. Every vehicle is different, so taking your time and assessing the structure and frame for obstructions is vital. Failing to identify blind spots increases the risk of accidents, which in turn increases insurance rates.
Protect yourself and your passengers by identifying blind spots and accident risks and purchasing a quality full-coverage insurance policy. Use EverQuote's comparison tool to review multiple quotes from various insurers. Comparing policies side by side helps you weigh the pros and cons of each policy and find the one that offers you the most benefits for the best price.