Tips for Overcoming Car Blind Spots

The Jakarta Fair Kemayoran (JFK) commonly known as the Jakarta Fair (PRJ) will be held again this year. From 14 June 2023 to 16 July 2023, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy various entertainment options throughout the entire month. The PRJ is conveniently located at the Kemayoran JIEXPO Arena, easily accessible by KRL, Transjakarta, or private vehicle transportation.

 

When driving a private car, it is essential to regularly check your rearview mirror and be aware of your vehicle's blind spots. Blind spots refer to areas where your line of sight is obstructed. These blind spots can hinder your ability to see other vehicles, objects, or pedestrians, making them potentially dangerous if not managed properly. Do you know tips for overcoming car blind spots? Find valuable insights in the article provided below.

 

 

Car Blind Spots

Every vehicle has a different blind spot, typically influenced by its size and dimensions. Generally, larger cars have wider blind spot areas, also known as "no zones." When driving, it is important to be mindful of the following blind spot areas:

1. The rear left or right side of the vehicle when occupying two lanes. These areas require extra caution, particularly in vehicles with thick pillars, as they restrict visibility towards the rear.
2. A portion of the rear side of the vehicle, approximately one-fourth, when preparing to make a turn. This area poses a collision risk if there are other motorists within the vulnerable zone.
3. The rear area of the car, often becomes a blind spot, especially in vehicles with enclosed rear windows like box cars.
4. Pedestrians who may appear amidst traffic congestion. Pedestrians frequently maneuver between vehicles, making them difficult to spot for drivers.
5. Motorcyclists who swerved from behind and moved to the lane in front of the car This occurrence is common in traffic jams, so it is crucial to exercise caution while driving.

 

Read Also: Get to know the Blind Spot Monitoring feature on cars and how it works

 

 

Factors Causing Car Blind Spots

Apart from the blind spot area above, other factors cause the appearance of a blind spot. Common factors include the limited coverage of the car's rearview mirror, driver inattentiveness, larger vehicle dimensions, obstructions caused by cargo or objects covering the rear glass, as well as adverse weather conditions such as rain or fog. To mitigate blind spots, cars are equipped with three mirrors placed strategically on different sides. The rearview mirror plays a crucial role in minimizing blind spots. Here are the positions and functions of the car's rear-view mirror:

 

1. Center Rear View Mirror

The central mirror, also known as the rear-vision mirror, is positioned at the top of the windshield. Its purpose is to provide you with visibility of the traffic conditions and the rear cabin. Additionally, it facilitates easier turning and maneuvering.

 

2. Right and Left Side-view Mirrors

These mirrors, commonly referred to as door mirrors or side-view mirrors, are located on the car's exterior, and attached to the window's edges. Their primary function is to offer a view of the side and rear blind spot areas.

 

3. Fender Mirrors

In addition to the center and side-view mirrors, some larger vehicles are equipped with additional mirrors. These smaller convex mirrors are typically situated above the front fenders. Their purpose is to aid the driver in navigating narrow streets, preventing contact with other vehicles, or avoiding sewers.

 

 

Tips to Minimize Car Blind Spots

When operating a vehicle, it is essential to minimize or eliminate blind spots to enhance safety and avoid accidents. Here are some tips to help prevent car blind spots:

 

1. Properly Adjust Mirror Positions

Before setting off, ensure that the rearview mirror is correctly positioned. Maintaining the rearview mirror is crucial in reducing blind spot areas. We recommend you maximize visibility of the rear, right, left, and adjacent lanes. By utilizing the mirrors effectively, you can observe challenging blind spots, enabling cautious maneuvers such as stopping, reversing, and anticipating other drivers' actions. When adjusting the mirrors, aim to see only about 10 percent of the car's body in the mirror's reflection. The less visible the car's body, the wider the field of view it provides.

 

2. Check the surrounding conditions before overtaking or turning

Signaling your intentions using indicators, horns, or turn signals is essential to inform other drivers about your vehicle's movements. This allows them to maintain a safe distance and avoid entering your blind spot. Before executing the maneuver, perform a head check or shoulder check by looking through the vehicle window to ensure that the surrounding conditions are safe. It is important to consistently check the environment, particularly in areas such as corners, residential zones, construction sites, steep roads, and intersections. Sometimes other vehicle users or pedestrians appear suddenly in the area, so you have to make sure the surrounding conditions are clear before turning or overtaking.

 

Read Also: Often Mistaken, This is The Correct Function of Dimmer Light!

 

3. Use assistive technology

Many modern cars now come equipped with advanced technologies such as parking sensors and rearview cameras. The rearview camera provides a visual display of areas that are typically difficult to see, particularly the space behind the car. Additionally, parking sensors emit audible alerts when approaching obstacles. This can make it easier for you to park or reverse.

 

4. Keep a safe driving distance

It is crucial to maintain a safe distance between your car and vehicles in front, behind, or alongside your vehicle. This distance allows for sufficient space to maneuver or brake when necessary. One commonly used guideline to determine a safe distance is the "3-second rule" typically applied on highways. Additionally, it is important to keep a safe distance and avoid lingering in the blind spots of buses or trucks when driving near them. Avoid driving at high speeds on busy roads or during traffic jams. High-speed driving in congested areas reduces your ability to control the car and increases the risk of accidents due to limited maneuvering space.

 

5. Remain alert while driving

When driving on a busy highway, it is important to remain vigilant and attentive. Other vehicles may make sudden maneuvers, requiring quick responses to prevent accidents. Your level of focus while driving greatly impacts your awareness of the surrounding conditions. Avoid playing music at high volumes as it can distract your concentration and make it difficult to hear the horns of other vehicles. Additionally, always ensure you are in a prime condition when driving. Driving while tired or drowsy diminishes your focus and alertness.

 

 

Those are some tips to overcome car blind spots. Blind spots pose a risk of traffic accidents as they obstruct a driver's view, often leading to poor decision-making, particularly when changing lanes or making turns. Drivers may not see other vehicles or lose sight of them in the blind spot area, yet still proceed with lane changes or turns, resulting in collisions.

 

If you need a car rental, choose a trusted car rental for better driving comfort. One of the trusted car rentals in Jakarta is MPMRent. With 8 branch offices and 18 representative branches across Indonesia, MPMRent offers a fleet of 15,000 vehicles suitable for both personal and office needs. MPMRent ensures that their cars are in the best condition to provide comfort during your drive. Monthly or yearly car rental made easy at MPMRent at the best prices. Please contact the nearest car rental service in your city.