Blind Spots and Cyclists: how knowing them can save your life
Dear two-wheel enthusiasts, welcome to our cycling space, where the passion for bicycles drives every pedal stroke and discussion. Today, we will reveal a crucial secret that could make the difference between a carefree ride and an unexpected encounter with the world of road giants.
In fact, although we cyclists are often very attentive at intersections, it is essential to also be aware of the risks related to vehicles passing beside or in front of us, often wrongly underestimated because we are sure they can see us.
Specifically, in this article we will talk about blind spots, the real ghost zones where the cyclist risks disappearing from the driver's radar.
To understand the importance of knowing vehicle blind spots well, consider that, according to data collected by the ASAPS Observatory report on pedestrians, from the beginning of 2023 to April 21, as much as 20% of fatal accidents involving a cyclist are caused by being hit by a truck.
Awareness of these limitations therefore becomes a crucial element for road safety.
Why know the blind spots of large vehicles?
The vast majority of vehicles on our roads have at least one blind spot; however, the issue of blind spots is particularly relevant for trucks and large vehicles because they have many more blind spots than other conventional vehicles like cars or motorcycles.
The general rule is that the larger the vehicle, the wider and more numerous the blind spots will be.
How to avoid the risks of blind spots?
The first way to avoid the risk of collision with other vehicles is naturally to always give way to the vehicle beside us, especially when at a traffic light or intersection, waiting for it to complete its maneuver before proceeding.
Also, a potential life-saving tip is to keep in mind that if we can see the driver's face in their mirrors, it means they can see us too; otherwise, it means we are in one of their blind spots and must pay the utmost attention and try to get out of it cautiously as soon as possible.