• Watch out for the blind spot!
• The blind spot is large
• What should the professional driver do about it?
• A defensive driving style
• Watch those manoeuvres!
• Blind spot mirror, camera and window

Watch out for the blind spot!

Transport companies nor drivers are to be blamed for the fact that trucks have a blind spot. After all, the existence of a blind spot is a technical matter.
But what can the professional driver do about it?

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The blind spot is large

In fact, a truck has several blind spots. People or objects in these zones become only visible to the truck driver if he uses additional resources:

immediately in front of the cabin (zone 1): 7 m² the right corner at the front (zone 1): 9 m² the right-hand side of the truck (zone 3): 52 m² behind the truck (zone 6): people or objects remain invisible in the mirrors up to 50 m behind the middle of the vehicle The blind zone at the front and at the right-hand side of the truck amounts to about 70m². top^

What should the professional driver do about it?

• Adjust the mirrors correctly:
  The standard mirrors have to be adjusted individually and accurately to your sitting position. After changing tractors, a driver has to pay particular attention to this. Consider also that mirrors may change position somewhat, especially when driving on a bumpy road.
• Keep the mirrors spotless:
  AShould the heating become defective, have it repaired a.s.a.p.
• The large, wide mirror is best mounted at the top as this improves your overview.
  The normal mirror is to be fitted below that. This increases your view on the rear axle of the tractor which is important when manoeuvring.
• The blind spot mirror has to be slanted properly and facing downwards.
  If, according to your sitting position, the mirror is not correctly adjusted, have it changed in the workshop. This will give you an optimal view on everything which occurs next to your tractor.

A defensive driving style

First and foremost it has to be stressed that, even if a truck has been fitted with a blind spot mirror and/or camera, a defensive driving style remains a must.
Your motto should be: pay attention, look out and observe again!

Particular attention should be paid to following points:

• Never stop immediately before the white line or a pedestrian crossing. Always leave some space so you are able to observe the crossing or the white line.
• Avoid overtaking other cars when not necessary. When coming from a slip-road fusing with the first lane of the motorway, filter in to the right a.s.a.p.
• Slow down on time and approach a crossing carefully. This will avoid startling people and you will be certain to be able to stop on time.
• When you know a cyclist is situated next to your truck and you can no longer observe him, wait a little before leaving. In this way you will not hit him.

Watch those manoeuvres!

When manoeuvring, you always have to be extra careful. This is part of a defensive driving style. The following traffic situations, however, demand even more attention from the professional driver:

• When driving on the motorway, filter in to the right a.s.a.p., especially when a new lane becomes available to the right.
• When entering the motorway, look over your shoulder to the left. This way, you will better notice oncoming traffic.
• When filtering in, after overtaking or pulling-out, keep looking in the right mirrors and keep a watchful eye on the other vehicles or road users.
• Avoid all unnecessary manoeuvres.

In short: don’t let anybody enter your blind spot.

Blind spot mirror, camera and window

When accidents, in particular blind spot accidents occur, cyclists are the weakest party. While cyclists, especially children, have to be taught to be wary of the blind zones of trucks, professional drivers should learn to sympathize with the other road users and to see the road as they do.
The existence of blind spots, however, makes this especially difficult. For this reason, each and every resource which reduces these dangerous zones remains more than welcome.

We, at Van Dievel Transport, have equipped all our tractors with a blind spot mirror; our newest trucks even have a blind spot camera. In addition, last year VDT experimented with a blind spot window in the passenger’s door under the slogan: ‘This driver is watching you’. Today already thirteen tractors have been fitted with this window.