What does the term ‘blind spot’ mean for a driver?

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When driving, what does a blind spot mean?

When we are driving, the rear view and side mirrors typically provide a good view around the vehicle, but there is frequently an area towards the rear of the vehicle that is not visible in the mirrors. This area is called the blind spot. The size of the blind spot varies depending on the vehicle and the driver's position, but in many circumstances, if you look over your shoulder, a car may be there that you couldn't see in your mirrors. This means that relying solely on the mirrors could result in an accident and that checking the blind spot is a crucial safety measure before changing lanes, merging onto a slip road, or pulling out of some intersections.


Stay out of other people's blind spots.

Large vehicles like HGVs have larger blind spots than passenger cars, and therefore frequently carry signs on the back indicating this: "If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you." Always make sure you can see a larger vehicle's mirrors and check there is enough space before overtaking to prevent being stranded driving next to the vehicle in their blind spot. To a lesser extent, the same is true with cars. On a motorway or dual carriageway, try to complete the manoeuvre quickly before reentering the overtaking lane. To lessen your vulnerability in the event that other drivers fail to check their blind spots or fail to see you there, try to avoid driving for extended periods of time in the blind spot of another vehicle. Certain vehicles such as vans, sports cars with a rear engine, and trucks towing trailers have poorer rear visibility than others. Not only HGV drivers may find it difficult to see you, so use caution and take all reasonable precautions to stay safe.


Do a blind spot check.

If you don't properly check over your shoulder before moving out of your lane or pulling out, blind spots can pose a severe threat to your safety on the road. To reduce the size of any blind spots around your car, ensure your mirrors are adjusted correctly.

New technology on modern cars exists to lower the chance of collisions by monitoring the blind spot. When a car is driving in your blind spot, blind spot monitoring systems on the rear bumper use cameras and radar sensors to detect it.