Driving Blind: How to Avoid Blind-Spot Collisions

Every time you drive your car onto the road, you are exposing yourself to the risk of an accident happening. With a diversity of drivers using the road, there is no telling whether the driver in front of you is cautious enough. One issue that has led to an increase in road accidents is the fact that most drivers have no way to tell whatever is happening in their blind spots.

While every vehicle will have a different type of blind spot, trying to eliminate yours should be a priority. You should also look to drive away from the blind spots of all other vehicles along your path.

Here is some information on blind spots and how to avoid the related accident:

How to Identify Your Blind Spot

A blind spot is an area that you cannot see while looking in front of your vehicle, at your rearview mirrors or even on the side mirrors. Most will be found either on the side of the car or even behind it. Others can be created by your passengers, your windshield pillars or even your headrest.

Since all vehicles tend to have different blind spots, it is wise to identify yours for safety reasons. Simply sit in your car and ask a friend to walk around the vehicle. In case they reach a point where you can no longer see them, then that is your blind spot. You should have them walk all around your car to ensure that you identify all the spots.

Eliminating Blind Spots

Without the right tools to identify your blind spots, you will have to turn your head around to spot the traffic behind or on the side of your vehicle. This short period of loss of focus on the road increases the risk of an accident occurring. Here are a few safe ways to eliminate blind spots, but you can try Driving Guide to learn more tips:

Use Aftermarket Blind Spot Mirrors

These mirrors are typically round and convex shaped mirrors that have to be fitted on your side mirrors. They help to broaden your range of view and eliminate blind spots so that you can see all the cars behind and beside you. However, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s rules when installing these mirrors to optimize your range of view.

Use Blind Spot Alerting Systems

Blind spot alerting systems, which can be bought inbuilt or aftermarket, can be a lifesaver when it comes to eliminating blind spot related accidents. In fact, these systems have reduced blind spot related accidents by as much as 11%, according to Forbes. Some systems will steer your car back into the previous lane in case they detect that there is traffic in your blind spot. Others will simply warm you through an alarm or through blinking some lights that are situated on your side mirrors.

If possible, you should choose to invest in these systems to improve your safety on the road. However, be careful not to over-rely on them, but focus more on the road instead.

What about the Blind Spots of Other Vehicles

While trucks tend to have large side mirrors, this doesn’t mean that they can eliminate their blind spots. The longer the truck, the more the blind spots it might have. The issue comes in if you were to drive within these areas.

When behind trucks or other drivers, it is wise to avoid tailgating them. Give them enough space. As long as you can see the drivers on their side mirrors, they can see you too, and you will no longer be within their blind spots. When overtaking, be quite careful not to follow the car in their blind spots.

Conclusion

Most road accidents related to blind spots could easily have been avoided if the drivers had been cautious enough. It only makes sense to do so yourself. Obeying all traffic rules is also wise as this reduces the chances that a driver will be driving within your blind spot.