Tips to Minimize Blind Spots When Driving

Car accidents occur for several reasons. One of the main causes of auto accidents is blind spots. According to research, blind spots account for more than 800,000 accidents annually. However, these accidents are easily preventable. This article highlights tips to help you prevent blind spots when driving.

Adjust Your Mirrors

Your car's mirrors are essential since they enable you to see what is going in around your car. Before you head out, remember to adjust your mirrors into the correct position to guarantee blind spot safety.

When adjusting your car's side mirrors, ensure the side mirrors allow you to see the vehicles in the nearby lanes clearly. On the other hand, the rear mirrors should enable you to see what's happening at the rear side of your vehicle.

Despite adjusting your mirrors into the correct position, you can never completely eliminate the blind spot. Therefore, you should consider investing in additional blind spot mirrors to clearly see what's going on the road.

Nowadays, some vehicles have a mirror memory. This feature allows you to adjust your mirrors into an appropriate position and then save the position in your vehicle's memory. All you need to do is hit the button, and the mirrors will adjust themselves into the right position the next time you are heading out.

Wait Before Pulling Out

You may need to change lanes or take a turn when driving. You can reduce the likelihood of colliding with other vehicles by checking your side and rearview mirrors to see any vehicles in your blind spot.

If you realize the blind spot is clear, wait for another two or three seconds before turning or switching lanes. This time is enough for vehicles that were in the blind spot enough time to appear in your field of vision. Also, remember to indicate so the drivers near you know that you are changing lanes.

Look Over Your Shoulder

Looking over your shoulder can be the best way to double-check if a vehicle is in your blind spot. If you do not see any car through the mirrors, you can see them through the side windows. You should consider looking over your left shoulder since that is where the blindest spots are located.

Although looking over your shoulder reduces the chance of getting involved in a blind spot accident, you may accidentally hit the vehicle in front of you, especially if the traffic is heavy. Enhance your safety by taking a quick glance and focusing on the road.

Use Modern Technology

Nowadays, high-end car models come with blind-spot detectors. A blind spot detector is a collection of cameras that help you detect vehicles in regions that the outside rearview mirrors don't cover. Additionally, a blind spot detector can notify you if you are driving too close to another car.

The main advantage of blind spot detectors is that they are reliable. Also, the detectors can enable you to detect vehicles in the blind spot without losing focus on the road, reducing the risk of road accidents.

Be Aware of Other Drivers' Blind Spots

All vehicles have a blind spot. Therefore, you should be aware of other drivers' blind spots when driving in the same way you are with yours. Remember, no matter how carefully you drive, another driver's mistake can cost you.

Pay attention to blind spots of the vehicles that can't see what's directly behind them. Examples of such vehicles include trucks and cars with full trunks. The drivers of these vehicles can only see other vehicles on the road through the side mirror. Therefore, if you drive closely behind such vehicles, you are increasing your chances of getting involved in a blind spot accident.



Avoiding blind spots is one of the best ways to prevent road accidents. Getting involved in a road accident can be devastating, especially if you stain serious injuries. If you get involved in a road accident, you should file a personal injury claim for compensation. For quality services, contact the Law Office of Robert P. Karwin.