When we are driving, the rear-view mirror and side-view mirror can usually observe the situation around the car very well, but at the rear of the vehicle, there is usually an area that is not visible in the rear-view mirror. The areas that you cannot see are called blind spots.
The size of the blind spot will vary depending on the car and driving position, but in many cases, if you look back, there may be a car that you cannot see in the rearview mirror. This means that relying solely on rearview mirrors can cause accidents, and checking for blind spots before changing lanes, joining from a branch road, or exiting from certain intersections is a basic safety procedure.
Like heavy trucks, large vehicles have larger blind spots than cars, and the signs of this aspect are often highlighted on the back: "If you can't see my rearview mirror, I can't see you" is the common message in the rear car. To avoid entering the blind spots of large vehicles, always make sure that you can see their rearview mirrors and check that there is enough space before overtaking so that you are not trapped next to the vehicle in the blind spot.
The same thing applies to cars to a lesser extent. If you stop overtaking on a highway or two-lane, try to complete the operation quickly and move back to the overtaking lane. Try to avoid driving for a long time in the blind spot of another vehicle, so as not to be more vulnerable if other drivers fail to check the blind spot or forget you are there.
Keep in mind that some vehicles have worse visibility than others. Vehicles with vans, rear-engined sports cars, and trailers usually only provide the driver with a limited rear view. It's not just that the HGV driver may have difficulty seeing you, you should proceed with caution and take all wise measures to ensure your safety on the road.
If you fail to properly check the shoulder before driving out of the vehicle or changing lanes, the blind spot can become a serious safety risk on the road. You should also ensure that the rearview mirrors are adjusted correctly to minimize the size of any blind spots around the car.
Of course, there are new technologies that can reduce the risk of collisions by monitoring the blind spots of modern cars. The blind spot monitoring system uses the camera and radar sensor on the rear bumper to detect whether a vehicle is driving in your blind spot.
These systems vary from model to model, but usually when there is another car in the blind spot, an orange light appears in the side-view mirror. If you indicate or try to change lanes while the lights are on, the lights will begin to flash, and some systems will use audible warnings or steering wheel vibrations to alert the driver to danger. If the car is equipped with a Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), it can perform steering corrections to keep you in the lane when someone is in your blind spot.
Ford has gone further with its Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), which can expand its surveillance area to include the blind spots of trailers. The new Ford pickups and SUVs allow the driver to enter the exact dimensions of the trailer, so the radar sensor on the rear bumper will cover the extended area behind the car.
Do you have any suggestions for blind spots? Let us know in the comments below...
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