Which of the following statements about blind spots is true?
Answers
Blind spots are eliminated if you have one outside mirror.
Large trucks have bigger blind spots than most passenger vehicles.
Blind spots can be checked by looking in your rearview mirror.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct statement is:
Large trucks have bigger blind spots than most passenger vehicles.
Explanation:
Blind spots refer to areas around your vehicle that are not visible through mirrors or direct sight. These spots can vary in size depending on the type and size of the vehicle. All vehicles, including passenger cars and large trucks, have blind spots, but the extent of these blind spots is significantly different.
1. Large trucks have bigger blind spots than most passenger vehicles.
This statement is accurate. Large trucks, such as semis or big rigs, have much larger blind spots compared to smaller vehicles. This is primarily due to their size and shape. Trucks have significant blind spots on all sides: to the front, to the rear, and on both sides. These blind spots can be especially dangerous, as truck drivers may not be able to see smaller vehicles that are too close to them, especially in the right-hand lane or directly behind the truck. Truck drivers rely on mirrors, but even with wide mirrors, certain areas around the truck remain hidden. This is why drivers of smaller vehicles need to be extra cautious when driving near large trucks.
2. Blind spots are eliminated if you have one outside mirror.
This statement is false. One outside mirror alone cannot eliminate blind spots. Even with a side mirror, there will still be areas that are not covered, especially in larger vehicles or if the mirrors are not properly adjusted. Properly adjusting all mirrors, including side and rearview mirrors, is important to reduce blind spots, but they will not fully eliminate them. Additionally, using techniques like shoulder checking (looking over your shoulder) can help confirm that there is no vehicle in your blind spot before changing lanes.
3. Blind spots can be checked by looking in your rearview mirror.
This statement is partially true but misleading. The rearview mirror is useful for seeing traffic behind you, but it doesn’t cover areas to the side of your vehicle where blind spots typically exist. To check blind spots, drivers need to physically turn their heads to ensure no vehicles are in those areas, especially before changing lanes or merging. Relying solely on the rearview mirror can lead to missing vehicles hidden in these blind spots.