In Safety / By Danny Tan / 5 September 2022 2:12 pm / 17 comments

We’ve shared a few posts on this before (see Myvi vs tanker), but here’s the most graphic example of the dangers of getting too close to a lorry’s side, specifically the blind spot of large vehicles. Where’s this blind spot? Just by the side of the driver, on both sides – here, you’re not in the view of their side mirrors.

These videos, shared by Fareez Aiman on Facebook, show a Proton Saga doing exactly that by attempting to pass a cement mixer from the outside at a traffic light junction in Sarawak.

The lights are green and the lorry maintains its curve to the right as the Saga makes its move. The big vehicle most probably didn’t know what happened until the Saga ended up sideways on its nose, and other motorists started to sound their horn. The mixer drove for some distance before pulling over.

See all three videos for different perspectives of the clash – one is from behind the Saga, one is a wider view from further behind, and one is a close up of the sedan, which had zero control once it kena sodok.

Many would immediately point fingers at the lorry driver in this clash of elephant and mouse, but perhaps we just don’t understand. Yes, there have been cases of reckless driving involving lorry drivers, on top of poorly maintained trucks that endanger motorists, but here, it’s simple – if the lorry driver can’t see you, he can’t make allowances, and the blind spots for big rigs are larger than that of cars.

This is brilliantly illustrated by Pakcik Shell on Instagram. The friendly uncle, whose day job is the MD of Shell Malaysia Trading, gets into one of the company’s tankers and shows us a clear view of the truck’s surroundings. Except that it’s not actually clear. Check out the video below to see a truck driver’s view for yourself.

Keep this tidbit and incident in mind and give big trucks a wide berth to avoid avoidable contact. Let’s all be more patient on the road and get home safe. Can you imagine the trauma the Saga occupants are having?

A post shared by Shairan Huzani (@pakcikshell)

Why is the Proton Saga at the 3rd lane, not going straight, BUT Turn right instead? Potong Q Karma?

the lorry driver assume he is entering the slow lane, from 2nd lane after turning right.

let’s see the police report.

Look closely at the road markings… the leftmost lane is a “Straight only” lane.. no turning… …

so the Saga is totally in the wrong. The mixer don’t even expect him to be there. Poor mixer now going to lose this wages just because of a law-breaking citizen.

Yes exactly, then those idiots will come out says “All trucks should install 360 cam” (Remember the last post of Pak Cik Shell)

Later the saga owner will write in Police Report “Oh I already put on my signal”, luckily there are so many dashcam shots to save the truck driver.

Wow 3 different dashcam shots. Lucky for the truck driver got lots of proof for his defence.

Please report accurately. This has no relation to blind spot, the most left lane on that Saga is for going straight as indicated on the road arrow. That Saga made an illegal turn right.

The report says Saga gets into blind spot, doesn’t matter he do a legal or illegal turn, is still “gets into blind spot”.

If I make illegal turn into your lane, it does not matter even if you have a Myvi, it will still be in your blind spot. The issue here is not blind spot but doing an illegal turn onto the front of that lorry.

Adui.. Even if illegal turn, even if samdol cilok driver do it but you can see him, then you can divert from hitting the samdol driver. The main issue is the samdol driver is in the truck’s blind spot thus lorry driver cannot see him & cannot make any allowances, especially not straight up hit him. Although serves the samdol cilok driver right.

He don’t understand, he got mental issue

kadang2 bukan sengaja , cuma pemandu bodoh dan bangang je….. Tapi yg dekat jalan ni, konfirm degil la… tgk yg rakaman 1st tu… Semua nak curi potong…

It may be the blind spot for the lorry during cornerning but how come the lorry driver didn’t realize the Saga is sticking in front of him? It could be seen from the windscreen and side window, there weren’t a blind spot anymore. A Saga width should cover the visible at the windscreen plus the Saga fender was easily being seen at the lorry driver window. Saga is in red color, easily to spot unless the lorry driver is color blind. For me, the lorry driver is punishing the Saga.

have you driven this kind of lorry before?

oi got many CDs in front of the windscreen. Cannot see maa..

ya la… i also think the lorry driver is fed up with all those ppl cutting queue and decided to ‘punish’ the saga. it can be seen from the beginning at the traffic light, the lorry driver can already notice the white suv & others cutting queue and merging into his lane in front of him, he is already aware there are cars coming from the left. and right before the lorry and the saga touches, the saga is about 2/3 car length ahead of the lorry, the lorry driver should be able to notice it. but annoyed by these queue cutters, he decided he doesn’t want to give in…

this article seem to suggest that the lorry driver did not do anything wrong because the saga got into the blind spot. this is totally wrong. what if a child somehow got into the blind spot of a car and died in another accident ?

Shhhh… He’s probably one of ‘those’ drivers like the saga driver on top. Rules no apply. Anything happen is always others fault

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