What is a Blind spot?
A blind spot is an area where you can’t see through the side mirrors and rear mirror. The hidden area on the left, right, front and back are the blind spot area while you are in the vehicle. It is very important to check your blind spot when you are driving otherwise you have a high chance of a crash and if you don’t do a proper blind spot check during the test you may fail your driving test despite any other errors.
How to do a blind spot Check?
You need to turn your head 90 degrees to the left and right or chin to the shoulder to see if there is anything behind you. Let’s say, if you are checking the left blind spot, your chin should turn over the left shoulder and if you are checking the right blind spot, your chin should turn over the right shoulder. The common mistake here is, lots of learners don’t turn their heads enough. If you don’t turn your head enough you will mark it as an observation error and remember 3 observation errors will make you fail. Another common mistake is, some learn to check the blind spot too early or too late. You must do your blind spot check just before you diverse or steer the wheel.
When to do a blind spot Check during the test?
- Leaving or returning to the kerb.
When you are leaving off from the kerb your must check your right blind spot check immediately before you leave from the Kerb.
When you do kerbside stop, you must check your left blind spot before you diverse or move to the Kerb.
- While turning left
You must check your left blind spot when turning left if those conditions are met.
Condition 1:
If you are turning left at the intersection and you have to diverse a car wide space to the left, then you must check the left blind spot. (Blind spot head checks are not required when you are already on the far-left lane or you are changing lanes or diverging immediately after a concrete median strip or parked vehicles).
Condition 2:
If you are turning left and there is a pedestrian crossing immediately after the intersection as shown in this picture, then you must do your left head check before you process. (Blind spot head checks are not required if there is no pedestrian crossing immediately after the intersection)
- While turning right
You must check your right blind spot when turning right if those conditions are met.
Condition 1:
If you are turning right at the intersection and you have to diverse a car wide space to the right, then you must check the blind spot. (Blind spot head checks are not required if you are already on far-right lane or when changing lanes or diverging immediately after a concrete median strip or parked vehicles)
Condition 2:
If you are turning right and there is a pedestrian crossing immediately after the intersection as shown in this picture, then you must do your right head check before you proceed. (Blind spot head checks are not required if there is no pedestrian crossing immediately after the intersection)
- When Changing lanes.
Whether you are changing the left lane or right lane, you must check the relevant head check immediately before you change the lane. (Blind spot head checks are not required when you are changing lanes or diverging immediately after a concrete median strip or parked vehicles.)
- Scenario, Merging or diverging.
Whether you are merging or diverging, you must check relevant head check immediately before merging or diverging. (As I mentioned earlier, Blind spot checks are not required when you are changing lanes or diverging immediately after a concrete median strip or parked vehicles.)
When you are merging on zip lane or forming one lane and there is no lane marking then it is not required to indicate the blinker, but you must check the relevant blind spot before merging. For example, if you are in the left lane, you need to check the right blind spot before you merge and vice versa.
- Scenario, Observation Check and Blind spot check when proceeding the traffic light
If you the first vehicle stopping at the traffic light, you must do a proper observation check otherwise you will have an observation error.
Condition 1, going straight through the traffic light:
If you the first vehicle stopping at the traffic light and you want to go straight through the traffic light when the traffic light is green. you must check the traffic on the right side and left side before you proceed, you may check while moving or check before you move to make sure it is safe to proceed which means there is no red-light runner.
Scenario 2, turning left at the traffic light:
If you the first vehicle stopping at the traffic light, and you want to turn left at the traffic light. When the traffic light is green, you must check the traffic on the right side and left side blind spot before you proceed, you may check while moving or check before you move to make sure it is safe to proceed which means there is no red-light runner on the right and no late pedestrian crosser.
Scenario 3, turning right at the traffic light:
If you the first vehicle stopping at the traffic light, and you want to turn right at the traffic light. When the traffic light is green, you must check the traffic on right side and left side and your right blind spot before you proceed, you may check while moving or check before you move to make sure it is safe to proceed which means there is no red-light runner on the right and left side and no late pedestrian crosser.
- Observation Check when proceeding to the pedestrian crossing.
When you are approaching a pedestrian crossing, you must slow down your speed and check right and left (you need to move your head to the right and left, not only your eyes ball) and must give way to all pedestrians and cyclists before you proceed.
There are so many details about observation check and blind spot check, it is sometimes very hard to understand and confusing if you are sitting for your driving test soon and have failed multiple times because of those reasons, our driving school and our expert driving instructor will help you to pass you driving test. And also we have packages available so you save some money buying bulk. Click here to book your driving lesson with our best driving instructors.
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