Get to know your car’s blind spots and avoid near collisions with other motorists

Picture this, you’re driving on the highway and you want to change lanes as the car in front of you is moving at a snail’s pace. So, you decided to overtake. You’re a patron saint behind the wheel; you checked the mirrors and saw that the coast is clear. You then flick the signal stalk and make a move.

Suddenly, you heard an angry-sounding honk. You swerved a little back to your lane as a motorbike on the right passes by. The rider looked annoyed, glanced at you menacingly and shook his head as he sped off to make his delivery.

But don’t worry, because this isn’t entirely your fault. Abang Grabpanda was merely not in your peripheral vision as he was in your blind-spot area. Blind-spots are areas around the side of a car that can’t be seen by the driver on both the rear and side mirrors.

This area is usually behind the wing mirrors and next to both the front and rear doors on both sides of your car.

All cars have blind spots from the old KE70 to the tiny Perodua Axia to the massive Toyota Hilux. It doesn’t take an advanced driver to know them either.

We are often taught in driving schools to always glance over our shoulders to check surroundings and not simply rely on mirrors alone. Of course, adjusting the side mirrors also helps to improve your visibility.

Also read: Scrub away what you’ve learned about your side mirrors from driving school and try this instead!

It is also important to know the blind spot areas of your fellow motorists especially larger vehicles like trailer trucks. The blind-spot area of these vehicles are often larger than a regular car.

Modern cars have offered solutions to solve blind-spot crashes with the most common being blind-spot monitors (BSM). The need for these solutions is becoming increasingly important with the latest methodology by ASEAN NCAP placing BSMs as one of the criteria for a 5-star rating.

Also read: ASEAN NCAP to assess AEB systems starting Jan 2021, motorcyclist safety included

This is included on the fourth pillar of the 2021-25 methodology called Motorcyclist Safety. Motorcyclists make up the biggest group of road users in Southeast Asia as well as the biggest fatalities of road accidents.

Also read: Next Perodua Myvi needs BSM to retain 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating

While having a BSM certainly helps in aiding drivers to be more alert with their surroundings, sometimes this feature can be quite redundant for a few drivers.

I have personally nearly got involved or witnessed a few near misses with cars equipped with BSM. Even if the car detects the blind spot by lighting up the wing mirror, it’s useless if the driver still continues to merge towards you.

Some manufacturers like Honda and Hyundai offer a set-up that uses cameras through the Honda LaneWatch and Hyundai Blind Spot View Monitor. However, not all manufacturers offer this feature and the blind-spot monitor radar remains a more cost-effective solution.

Also read: Here's why the new Honda Civic FC facelift's LaneWatch is better than blind spot monitor

The blind-spot monitor was once a feature only offered on high-end cars. Today though, you can get one in something as cheap as the Perodua Ativa or the Toyota Vios/Yaris. It's simply amazing to see how far car technology has progressed in the past decade.

Also read: General buying guide: 5 must-have features in a new car

There are even aftermarket specialists who would install a blind-spot monitor in your car. But if you’re doing so, we recommend to find a professional to have it installed. Even with a BSM and mirrors, remember to look over your shoulder before switching lanes.