No matter whether you are a new driver or a seasoned pro, we all know that driving comes with major responsibilities - and missing things in your car’s blind spots is a big part in avoiding road accidents. Vehicle blind spots were linked to 1,250 accidents in 2016 alone, so understanding what the blind spot of a car is and how to check it is crucial for keeping yourself and others safe while driving.
So, if you’ve been wondering ‘what is a blind spot in driving?’ or ‘when should I check my blind spots and how do I do so’? – keep on reading.
Your vehicle’s mirrors (when set up correctly) should show you most of what’s going on behind you - but there are spots that they can’t reach. The areas that you can’t see in your windows, wing mirrors, rear-view mirrors or peripheral vision are called blind spots. Understanding the meaning of the term ‘blind spot’ - and that having them is unavoidable - is vital for your safety on the road.
When it comes to the blind spot of a car, the size can vary depending on the vehicle and driving position. However, there are two main blind spot positions that all cars have:
1. Diagonally behind you, over the driver’s right shoulder – traffic that pulls up in a lane alongside you will be hidden from view.
2. Diagonally in front of you – your car’s bodywork (the A-pillars either side of your windscreen) will obscure your vision.
The 'A-pillar blind spot' has a slightly different meaning to the common blind spots at the side of your car. Pillars are found around the glass on your windows. They’re part of a vehicle’s design, and the A-pillar specifically is the material on either side of the windscreen that arches up into the roof. Typically, they create smaller blind spots than those diagonally behind you, but they are still important to be aware of.
As a driver, it’s your responsibility to be aware of your surroundings, and other drivers, at all times. Even pedestrians and cyclists can slip into your blind spots, so make sure you take extra care to look out for them as well. You should regularly be keeping an eye on your mirrors and blind spots, but there are times when it’s particularly important to do so:
- Before setting off – When you’re moving from a stationary position, it’s crucial to ensure your blind spots are clear (even if you need to wind down your window to double-check).
- Changing lanes and merging – Be particularly careful of larger vehicles, as they have bigger blind spots. Keep a safe distance from other cars (as you could potentially be in their blind spots as well). Always indicate, check your mirrors and your blind spots before merging or changing lanes.
- Junctions and roundabouts – When road users are coming from multiple directions, this makes checking your blind spots even more important. Don’t forget your A-pillars, as they could be blocking you from seeing traffic coming from the left or right.
- Turning into a side road – watch closely for cyclists, because if they are right behind you before you turn left, then you may not see them if you don’t check your blind spots properly.
- After an emergency stop or sitting in stationary traffic – You might not have had time to check your mirrors before an emergency stop, and cyclists or motorcyclists could have sneaked up behind you while stuck in traffic – so make sure to thoroughly check your surroundings before you move again.
The basic actions are the same when checking your blind spots, no matter where you are on your journey.
1. Check your mirrors (rearview and both sides)
2. Indicate
3. Turn your head over your right or left shoulder (checking around door frames and pillars)
4. Confirm its safe, and then make your move
Some modern cars come with a blind spot detection system, and this technology can help by flashing a warning in your wing mirror when it’s time to check your blind spots. Ultimately, however, it’s always down to the driver to stay safe and be aware of their surroundings.
If you don’t check your blind spots during your driving test, you will receive a fault. If it’s a potentially dangerous point in the test to not have checked your blind spots, it will be marked as a major fault, and you will automatically fail. In fact, in 2019/2020, not moving off safely was one of the top 10 most common reasons for failing a driving test.
Beyond not passing your test, failing to properly check your blind spots could be the cause of an accident. Dangerous driving could result in fines and even prison time - so it’s of vital importance that you understand and remember the rules of the road.
And that’s our guide to vehicle blind spots. We hope we’ve helped you to understand what a blind spot is, how to check them, and why it’s important to do so. If you’re a new driver and looking for more tips, take a look at this handy guide. Or, for more advice and information, discover our other blogs.
