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Blind spotUnited States

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Traffic signs
Traffic rules
United States

265. Blind spot

A blind spot is an area around a vehicle that the driver cannot see directly or through the mirrors. Blind spots vary with the size and design of the vehicle and can be particularly large around trucks, buses and other high-sided vehicles. Drivers should adjust their mirrors correctly and check beside the vehicle before changing lanes, turning or moving away. Cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists should also avoid remaining beside large vehicles where the driver may not be able to see them.

Blind spot
Warning for a hill blocking the view. (Florida, United States)
Wikimedia.org • DanTD • CC BY-SA
What is a blind spot?

A blind spot is an area around a vehicle that cannot be seen directly by the driver or adequately through the mirrors.

Do all vehicles have blind spots?

Yes. The size and position of blind spots depend on the vehicle design, mirrors and driver position. Large vehicles generally have larger blind spots than passenger cars.

How should you check a blind spot?

Adjust the mirrors correctly and, where necessary, make a brief direct check beside the vehicle before changing lanes, turning or moving away. The exact technique depends on the vehicle.

Why are truck blind spots dangerous?

Trucks can have large areas around the front, sides and rear that are difficult or impossible for the driver to see. Cyclists and pedestrians can therefore disappear from view even when they are close to the vehicle.

Can mirrors eliminate every blind spot?

No. Correctly adjusted mirrors can greatly improve visibility, but some areas may still remain difficult to see. Drivers should use all available mirrors and direct observation where appropriate.

Where should cyclists avoid riding near a truck?

Cyclists should avoid remaining directly beside, immediately in front of or close behind a large vehicle, particularly near intersections where the vehicle may turn.

1 United States 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Speed limit 5 Minimum speed 6 Advisory speed 7 Bike path 8 Pedestrian warning 9 Tunnel 10 Bridge 11 Speed bump 12 Toll road 13 One-way traffic 14 Slope 15 Bus lane 16 Bus stop 17 Dead end 18 Stop sign 19 Give way 20 Roundabout 21 Road narrowing 22 Pedestrian crossing 23 Railway crossing 24 Mandatory direction 25 Turn prohibition 26 School area 27 Crossing animals 28 Slippery road 29 Rockfall 30 Aircraft 31 Curve 32 Chevron 33 Wrong-way driving 34 Roadworks 35 Height limit 36 Weight limit 37 Radar speed sign 38 Selective barriers 39 Traffic lights 40 Traffic lights warning 41 Pedestrian lights 42 Road markings 43 Bike box 44 Speed feedback 45 Driving licence 46 Traffic mirror 47 Emergency telephone 48 Cycling route 49 Parking 50 No parking 51 No stopping 52 Parallel parking 53 Park and ride 54 Kiss and ride 55 Disabled parking 56 Traffic management 57 Reversing 58 U-turn 59 Carpool 60 Detour 61 Uncontrolled crossroad 62 Ramp 63 Exit 64 Horse riding 65 Emergency exit 66 Runaway truck ramp 67 Oversize load 68 City limit 69 Tourist attraction 70 Horn 71 Axle weight limit 72 Licence plate 73 Charging station 74 Flooding 75 Dip 76 Horse 77 Local traffic 78 Pedestrian 79 Cyclist 80 Motorcycle 81 Truck 82 Bus 83 Police 84 Ambulance 85 Police signals 86 Gravel road 87 Pothole 88 Median strip 89 Public property 90 Path 91 Particulates 92 Air pollution 93 Interchange 94 Rush hour 95 Filling station 96 Road code 97 Two-way traffic 98 Passing lane 99 Street gutter 100 Road debris ... 101 Cargo bike 102 Lane splitting 103 Forestry vehicle 104 Construction vehicle 105 Semi-trailer truck 106 Trolleybus 107 Speed pedelec 108 Delivery vehicle 109 Idling 110 Tow truck 111 Four-wheel drive 112 Bicycle 113 Motorcycle equipment 114 Tram 115 Rail track 116 Caravan 117 Trailer 118 Tow hitch 119 Fire truck 120 Siren 121 Convoy 122 Emergency vehicle lighting 123 Tractor 124 Agricultural machinery 125 Electric bicycle 126 Electric vehicle 127 Pedelec 128 Quadricycle 129 Microcar 130 All-terrain vehicle 131 Van 132 Recreational vehicle 133 Scooter 134 Trikke 135 Personal mobility device 136 Skateboard 137 Segway 138 Kick scooter 139 Roller skates 140 Mailman 141 Hitchhiker 142 Baby 143 Toddler 144 Child 145 Disability 146 Snowmobile 147 Motorail 148 Parking violation 149 km/h 150 mph 151 Speedometer 152 Play street 153 Rumble strip 154 Ride height 155 Dirt road 156 Driving 157 Start-stop system 158 Manual transmission 159 Automatic transmission 160 Throttle 161 Tachometer 162 Steering wheel 163 Power steering 164 Visual scanning 165 Mirror 166 Fuel 167 Fuel gauge 168 Petrol 169 Diesel 170 Diesel exhaust fluid 171 Car insurance 172 First aid kit 173 Fire extinguisher 174 High-visibility clothing 175 First aid 176 Guardrail 177 Concrete step barrier 178 Barriers 179 Vehicle lights 180 Street lights 181 Dipped beam 182 High beam 183 Fog lights 184 Front fog lights 185 Rear fog lights 186 Side lights 187 Turn signals 188 Hazard lights 189 Dashboard lights 190 Bicycle lighting 191 Bicycle bell 192 Headlight flashing 193 Seat belt 194 Child restraints 195 Head restraints 196 Airbag 197 ABS 198 Esp 199 Traction control system 200 Helmet 201 Bicycle helmet 202 Hands-free 203 Smartphone 204 GPS 205 Brake 206 Handbrake 207 Brake fluid 208 Tyres 209 Tyre code 210 Winter tyres 211 Tyre pressure 212 Snow chains 213 Bicycle tyre 214 Continuous track 215 Gross Vehicle Weight 216 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 217 Weigh station 218 Cargo 219 Car body 220 Trunk 221 Roof rack 222 Windscreen 223 Emergency hammer 224 Car battery 225 Traction battery 226 Suspension 227 Shock absorber 228 Spring 229 Exhaust 230 Exhaust gas 231 Soot 232 Catalytic converter 233 Engine 234 Petrol engine 235 Diesel engine 236 Electric motor 237 Timing belt 238 Glow plug 239 Cylinder 240 Engine oil 241 Coolant 242 Maintenance 243 Spare tyre 244 Flat tyre 245 Jack 246 Vehicle inspection 247 Key 248 Dashboard 249 Windscreen wiper 250 Doors 251 Glovebox 252 Visibility 253 Snow 254 Ice 255 Rain 256 Freezing rain 257 Fog 258 Hail 259 Sunlight 260 Sunglasses 261 Salt 262 Air conditioning 263 Hydroplaning 264 Loose chippings 265 Blind spot 266 Distraction 267 Emotions 268 Road rage 269 Health 270 Epilepsy 271 Night blindness 272 Visual impairment 273 Fatigue 274 Defects 275 Traffic violation 276 Alcohol 277 Alcohol control 278 Ignition interlock device 279 Breath test 280 Breath analysis 281 Blood alcohol content 282 Blood test 283 Saliva test 284 Drugs 285 Medication 286 Penalties 287 Speeding 288 Smoking 289 Traffic enforcement camera 290 Double curve 291 Accident 292 Injuries 293 Nosebleed 294 Damage 295 Breakdown 296 Total loss 297 Warning triangle 298 International Driving Permit 299 Traffic rules 300 Driving school 301 Traffic signs