Truck blind spots pose a hidden danger to both drivers and pedestrians. Recognizing and understanding these blind spots is crucial for minimizing traffic accident risks. This article provides detailed information about truck blind spots, how to identify them, and effective prevention measures.
Different perspectives of truck blind spots from various angles
Diagram showing truck blind spots from different viewpoints
What Are Truck Blind Spots?
Truck blind spots are areas around the vehicle that the driver cannot directly see with their naked eyes or through mirrors. The larger the truck, the wider the blind spots. Blind spots pose a risk of collisions and serious traffic accidents, making it difficult for drivers to maneuver, especially when changing lanes, reversing, turning, or parking.
The formation of blind spots is related to vehicle design, driver height and seating position, and the adjustment of mirrors and driver’s seat.
Identifying Dangerous Truck Blind Spots
1. Front Blind Spot
The high cabin of large trucks, dump trucks, and container trucks obstructs the driver’s view in the area directly in front of the vehicle, creating a front blind spot.
To ensure safety, vehicle operators and pedestrians should not move too close to the front of a truck, overtake from the front, and especially avoid cutting in front of the truck. Heavy trucks have difficulty braking suddenly.
Truck front blind spot illustration
2. Side Blind Spots
Side blind spots are areas not reflected in the rearview mirrors. These blind spots are prone to accidents because the obscured area is quite large.
To know if you are in a blind spot, look into the truck’s rearview mirror. If you can see the driver, it means the driver can also see you. Conversely, if you are in the blind spot, you need to quickly move out of this zone.
Avoid driving parallel to or close to the side of a truck to avoid side blind spots.
The danger of driving alongside a truck: Blue car in the side blind spot
Car in truck side blind spot
3. Rear Blind Spot
The rear blind spot is the area behind the truck’s tail or cargo bed, extending from a few meters to under 60 meters (depending on vehicle size and mirror adjustment).
In this area, the driver cannot see people or objects at all through mirrors or with the naked eye. Pedestrians in this area are also visually obstructed and cannot see the traffic situation ahead. This is the most dangerous blind spot, especially when the driver is reversing, braking suddenly, parking, or driving in crowded residential areas.
Truck rear blind spot illustration
4. Other Blind Spots
In addition to the 3 main blind spots above, there are smaller blind spots caused by windshield pillars, under rearview mirrors, on the roof, and under the undercarriage. Drivers and pedestrians still need to be mindful of these.
Diagram showing all truck blind spots
Overcoming Blind Spots While Driving
Adjusting Rearview Mirrors Accurately
To minimize side blind spots:
- Lean your head to the left until it touches the door window.
- Adjust the left mirror so that the vehicle body is almost not visible in the reflection.
- Lean your head towards the center of the vehicle.
- Adjust the right mirror similarly to step 2.
Steps to adjust truck mirrors to minimize blind spots
Adjusting Driver’s Seat and Seating Position
Adjust the driver’s seat and steering wheel so that your eye level is higher than the steering wheel and directly above the middle of the windshield. The seating position must allow convenient observation of both side rearview mirrors without much movement.
Equipping Multi-Directional Mirrors
Many current truck models are equipped with multi-directional mirror systems that help drivers observe in multiple directions, reducing blind spots. If the standard mirror system is not optimal, you can purchase auxiliary or larger mirrors at authorized service stations or reputable truck parts stores.
Multi-directional mirrors on a truck
Conclusion
Understanding truck blind spots is very important to ensure traffic safety. By applying the prevention measures mentioned above, we can minimize the risk of accidents and contribute to building a safer traffic environment. Always be cautious and maintain a safe distance from trucks when participating in traffic.
