The use of safe vehicle backing tips by employers and employees can help prevent accidents while on the job. Quantification and analysis of blindspots for light motor vehicles. Blind spot truck crashes in maryland baltimore truck. Every car has 2 blind spots each side of the car as suggested by the blue shaded areas coming from the red car in the diagram. The operator must be provided with information as to these items at all times while the vehicle is moving to be able to make sound. Driving presents many risks those behind the wheel need to manage, one of them being blind spots, or the area of a car that can be difficult to see using mirrors.
There are six major causes of car collisions and accidents. The older the model of truck or car the more likely the pillar has a design flaw that will lead to blind spots and accidents. Prevention and liability personal injury attorneys. Niosh created diagrams of blind spots for several vehicles commonly used on construction sites. Many bus fatalities and serious injuries takes place because of blind spots in mirrors. While many of these accidents are minor, they result in around 300 fatalities annually. Over the past few years, technology with cars has changed. But there must be something that can be done to prevent blind spot accidents, right. Blind spot accidents happen when a driver has decreased visibility to either side of his car. From lost wages, lost jobs, property damage, and mounting medical bills, our attorneys can help you manage your debts while you recover.
If you feel your rights have been violated, contact our lawyers today for a free. Vehicle backing accidents are completely preventable. Ceesar has written a data coding protocol manual explaining each item to. Blind spots may also be caused by the height of the driver, both taller and shorter drivers may have trouble seeing certain areas around the car while situated in the drivers seat. Truck blind spot accident claims in az phillips law group. What percent of car accidents are due to blind spots. Sep 22, 2011 blind spot accidents on the increase the number of blind spot accidents on britains roads has risen sharply over the last two years, a study has found. Although many motorists are courteous, some people dont understand the fact that bigrigs need more room to speed up, slow down, and turn than regular vehicles. How to avoid vehicle backing accidents according to the national safety council, one of every four accidents occurs while the vehicle is operating in reverse. A driver who is not aware of what is around his or her vehicle may crash into other cars or objects, not realizing they are there.
Truck drivers should be aware of blind spots stewart j. It is possible to reduce the chance of being involved in a blind spot accident by abiding by all traffic laws, being a defensive driver, remaining attentive while driving your automobile, and utilizing our previous tips to eliminate blind spots. Truck accidents caused by blind spots injury lawyers. Blind area diagram for construction vehicle ground plane. Im ed smith, a car accident attorney in sacramento.
Hidden biases of good people delacorte, 20, is this. Sep, 2017 this video focuses on blind spots and being more vigilant of the surroundings when working with vehicles. Blind spots to the sides and rear of a tractor trailer are inevitable. Pdf reducing sidesweep accidents with vehicletovehicle.
Construction vehicle and equipment blind area diagrams caterpillar inc. Nov 20, 2017 understanding truck blind spots for road safety. While there are a variety of factors that contribute to car accidents, the majority of accidents could be prevented with extra care or caution. Many of these accidents occur when one driver hits a car in his blind spot. Blind spot accidents, particularly when the car that is hit is smaller than. Construction vehicle and equipment blind area diagrams.
Blind spots in a car rearview mirrors cannot cover all areas around a vehicle, which means that blind spots exist that prevent drivers from seeing other road users. Although you do have plenty of technology in your car including side mirrors and rearview mirrors that help you to outline the landscape behind your vehicle, you should. According to the national highway traffic safety administration, blind spots result in nearly 840,000 accidents every year. But there must be something that can be done to prevent blindspot accidents, right. This paper outlines procedures for calculating and analyzing the factors affecting blind spots for light motor vehicles by. Backing and backover accidents cause an estimated 500 deaths and 15,000 injuries each year. All arizona motorists must pay special attention when traveling in close proximity to any large commercial vehicle. New drivers and those with eyesight problems are particularly susceptible to causing blind spot accidents. Jun 22, 2018 a personal injury lawyer dedicated to your car accident case provides substantial peace of mind at an understandably difficult time.
The top 10 leadership blind spots, and 5 ways to turn them. The aim of the research is to identify if blind spots in the combined. The proper adjustment of mirrors and other technical solutions can help to reduce vehicle blind spots. The blue shading is the area that the driver of the red car cannot see into simply by looking into the mirrors alone.
Jan 06, 2017 trying to switch lanes only to realize that another car is driving in your blind spot isnt just annoying its dangerous. Blind zone accidents and how to prevent them by jacob bustad n early every driver is familiar with blindzones. Blind spot collisions happen for a variety of reasons and results in a range of damages. When a car is being constructed, there may be pillars, which cause blind spots. Pdf all vehicles have blind spots which include the front, rear and both sides of the vehicle. Blind spots explained surrounding every moving vehicle is a circle of 360 degrees that can be defined as the operating environment of the vehicle. This safety talk will focus on the simple and easy actions you can take to prevent backing accidents before backing up. Blind spots are to blame for many accidents, so know the. By definition a blind spot is the area around a truck, or vehicle, which the driver cannot see. Finally, not checking blind spots and not being aware of ones surroundings can result in a collision. National institute for occupational safety and health niosh. Blind spots are locations around a moving vehicle that are not captured in the vehicles side or rearview mirrors. In fact, there are several things that can be done, and over the last few years major car companies have come up with several ways of letting you know when its safe to change. The following is a list of the leading causes of accidents incurred by drivers not taking into consideration blind spots in the mirrors on their school bus.
A blind spot in a vehicle is an area around the vehicle that cannot be directly observed by the driver while at the controls, under existing circumstances. This video focuses on blind spots and being more vigilant of the surroundings when working with vehicles. The analysis of those accidents can be found in chapter 3. Trying to switch lanes only to realize that another car is driving in your blind spot isnt just annoying its dangerous. Being aware of the trucks blind spots will make the road safer for you, the trucker, and everyone around you. Stage a dump truck or other large piece of equipment in an open area or parking lot. Surprisingly, the majority of fatal car accidents involve only one car, although half of auto fatalities can be linked to high speeds. Dont just eyeball the car in front of you but watch the traffic in front of that car as well. The cyclist, who has right of way, is often overlooked by the lorry driver. One additional factor that contributes to highway accidents involving trucks is speed.
In fact, there are several things that can be done, and over the last few years major car companies have come up with several ways of letting you know when its safe to change lanes, alerting you to the presence of cars in your blind spot. This increases your chance of seeing a problem while still having enough time to react to it, and. Pdf sidesweep accidents are one of the major causes of loss of life and property damage. These diagrams can help operators understand what they cant see from inside the cab of their vehicle.
Checking blind spots is even more important and challenging for commercial truck drivers. Chicago car accidents resulting from blind spots are very common because sometimes there is no way to avoid these accidents. Accidents that occur due to a truck drivers blind spots. Aug 31, 2017 the proper adjustment of mirrors and other technical solutions can help to reduce vehicle blind spots.
The number of crashes caused by blind spots has risen by 50% over the last two years, a study has found. The mirrors page of the hgv heavy goods vehicle testers manual was. According to the united states department of transportation, over 4,000 automobile accidents are caused by truck blind spot accidents every year. Within that environment can be other vehicles, people or other objects. Every driver should know to check their blind spot before changing lanes on the highway or making turns. How to avoid large truck blind spot accidents safe driving tips. Mar 18, 2015 if you believed you were fine following your car accident, but later started seeing blind spots in your field of vision or having other sight problems, it is critical that you see an eye doctor immediately to determine whether you have experienced a retinal tear or detachment. Construction industry preventing backovers additional. Blind spots arent the same as passenger vehicles accidents that involve a large truck or tractor trailer are considered some of the most common that occur on the road today. In arizona more than 12,000 accidents were leftturn or reartoside collisions which may have been a.
The inability to see vehicles or pedestrians on the roadway is a very serious hazard while driving. It should appear in the outside mirror before it leaves the. Pdf awareness and prevalence of vehicle blindspot issues. A small car may have only 12 feet of blindness from the rearview mirror, while a fullsized. How to avoid vehicle backing accidents according to the national safety council, one of every four accidents.
Due to the large size of trucks, they have much larger blind spots than any passenger vehicle, and blind spot accidents are much more prevalent. Construction industry preventing backovers additional resources. In every case, thats a blind spot accident just waiting to happen. Most of what you do as a defensive driver is in response to what you see while driving. One of the primary causes of truck accidents is blind spots. The texas department of insurance, division of workers. Position your rearview mirror as you normally would.
For these reasons, poorly trained drivers can cause accidents. Backing accidents are 100 percent preventable because they are. Because blind spot crashes appear to be avoidable and the consequences for the casualties are very severe, this type of crash attracts considerable media attention. National institute for occupational safety and health niosh created diagrams of blind spots for several vehicles commonly used on construction sites. Even passenger vehicles have blind spots if the mirrors are not adjusted properly or if the vehicle is a largerthanaverage vehicle. Blind spots are to blame for many accidents, so know the dangers blinds spots are a hazard that drivers must contend with every time they get behind the wheel. Strategically positioning these mirrors at the ends of warehouse aisles and outside corners also can help to prevent accidents at blind spots in indoor spaces as well. Most people think of the blind spots at the back corners of their vehicles as the ones that cause accidents, particularly changing lanes into another car. Oct 12, 2017 this provides additional safety at corner and t intersections outdoors. Just take a look at the rear bumpers of the ppd cars. Usually double checking andor moving your head a bit helps eliminate the blind spots caused by these pillars. Nearly 840,000 blind spot accidents occur each year in the united states resulting in 300 fatalities, according to the national highway traffic safety administration. Turning accidents between cars and trucks and cyclists driving. You will have more time to act if you see hazards before they become emergencies.
Rumar goes on to note that when drivers are asked why the accident occurred, they often claim they either saw the car too late to avoid collision or did not see the. Blind spot accidents every single vehicle has blind spots that restrict what the driver is able to see around the vehicle while traveling the road. The taller and longer the vehicle, the bigger the blind spots. This fact sheet will discuss the concept blind spot, look at the data in relation with the blind spot issue. Blind spot a blind spot in a vehicle is an area around the vehicle that cannot be directly observed by the driver while at the controls, under existing circumstances. Posted on behalf of roden law firm on apr 25, 2018 in car accident. Blind spots are areas of the road that are not immediately visible from rearview mirrors.
Maslina musa at malaysian institute of road safety research. A significant amount of accidents can be reduced if the blind spot is checked before changing lanes, especially on high speed roads. Blind spots tractor trailer accident brad pistotnik law. How to avoid large truck blind spot accidents safe. Rosenfeld injury lawyers llc is familiar with chicago car accidents involving blind spots. Far too many car accidents in the san diego area are caused by individuals who do not see other vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists in their blind spot. Trucks are no different and their blind spots are massive when compared to the blind spots in cars, vans or pickup trucks that drivers can check merely by looking over their shoulders. Avoid other drivers blind spots the rear and sides of a car and directly behind a truck make sure other drivers see you turn your head when making lanes changes to check blind spots. Avoiding blind spots blind spots, or nozones on trucks are actually quite large.
How to adjust your car mirrors to eliminate blind spots sae duration. Understanding the different types of blind spot accidents may help you identify negligent drivers and practice defensive driving. Liability for blind spot accidents max meyers law pllc. The longer a car stays in a truck drivers blind spot, the less likely the truck driver is to be aware of the cars presence. A national highway traffic safety administration nhtsa study indicated that of the nearly 630,000 lane change merge lcm crashes that occur every year, nearly 60 percent of. These types of trucks are especially hazardous due to. Trucks are no different and their blind spots are massive when compared to the blind spots in cars, vans or pickup trucks that drivers can check merely by. Adjusting the positioning of your mirrors is a quick and easy way to immediately improve your visibility and reduce blind spots. Top 10 editors tips to prevent a car accident edmunds.
Car blind spot accident lawyer chicago auto accident. Figure16perceivedcausesofcrashesamonglorrydrivers22. Blind spot activity occupational safety and health. The driver who merged into his blind spot will likely argue that he is not at fault, so that raises the question, who is liable in blind spot accidents. Dec 04, 2016 blind spot accident on freeway in houston, texas. Understanding a cars blind spots can help a driver avoid serious auto and truck accidents, and at the same time, prepare the driver to avoid being in someone elses blind spot. Other types of transport have no blind spots at all, such as bicycles, horses, and motorcycles. If possible, secure several different types of equipment to demonstrate how blind spots vary from one piece of equipment to another. Blind spots can be caused by the window pillars, headrests, passengers, and other objects. A scientific study etac european truck accident causation iru. These visual impairments not only pose a threat to drivers, their passengers and other motorists, but they also can cause serious or fatal injuries to motorcyclists, bicyclists and. However, the blind spot directly behind vehicles can be much larger than people realize and contribute to a significant number of injuries and deaths during backup accidents. Vehicles operating at 55 mph need at least 400 feet to stop. First, most of the time drivers are looking at mirrors facing to the rear of the bus.
There are new advances that drivers can obtain on their vehicles. About 4,000 people lose their lives in trucking accidents every year, many the result of one small mistake. In order to reduce the risk of accidents involving blind spots, the european. If you believed you were fine following your car accident, but later started seeing blind spots in your field of vision or having other sight.
This makes it less likely that the truck driver will change lanes or turn without realizing the car is there and without taking any evasive actions to avoid a collision. Statistics provided by the united states department of transportation demonstrate that over 4,000 automobile accidents are caused by truck blind spot accidents each year. Truck blind spot accidents truck blind spots are commonly referred to as a no zone and present some of the greatest dangers on the roads and highways of arizona today. Unfortunately, blind spot accidents may not always be avoidable resulting in damages and injuries. More seriously, backing accidents routinely injure and kill workers across the u. A personal injury lawyer dedicated to your car accident case provides substantial peace of mind at an understandably difficult time. Sep 22, 2011 the number of crashes caused by blind spots has risen by 50% over the last two years, a study has found. In arizona more than 12,000 accidents were leftturn or reartoside collisions which may have been a result of not checking a blind spot properly. Blind spots are responsible for a lot of car accidents, but there are ways to avoid them. In a mediumsized truck, blind spots can extend up to 16 feet in front and 160 feet behind a vehicle.
The orange car can be seen in the red cars right door mirror and perhaps slightly in the interior mirror. Furthermore, of these accidents, nearly 160,000 fatalities occurred as a result. It is possible to reduce the chances of being involved in a blind spot. Backing accidents cause 500 deaths and 15,000 injuries per year.
Accidents involving blind spots cause serious injuries and fatalities. How being aware of blind spots can help you prevent. Accidents, road rage, bad drivers, police, instant karma, hit and. A small car may have only 12 feet of blindness from the rearview mirror, while a fullsized pickup can have as much as 30 feet. Car accidents cause many injuries and fatalities every year in the united states. Blind spots generally extend out and backwards from the front car windows, into the lanes on either side of the driver. Truck drivers blind spots happen to be one of the most dangerous aspects in many accidents, earning them the name no mans land. Most of the collisions occur when drivers pull out unaware that that there is a car in.
Blind zone accidents and how to prevent them the university of. Passenger car drivers often think that because the driver of a big rig sits up so high, he or she can see everything around going on around the truck cab and trailer. Eliminating truck blind spots a matter of direct vision transport. For a great many of us including this writer, who is both female and a great believer in professional equality, that answer is embarrassingly hard to figure out. Compared to conventional glass mirrors, acrylic mirrors can be more durable, lightweight and fadeproof. This section offers an explanation of the car blind spot, when the blind spot must be checked, plus the dangers associated with not checking the blind spot. This provides additional safety at corner and t intersections outdoors. Truck blind spots are commonly referred to as a no zone and present some of the greatest dangers on the roads and highways of arizona today. Blind spots are to blame for many accidents, so know the dangers. Swov fact sheet blind spot crashes summary crashes involving lorries turning right and cyclists going straight ahead usually have very serious consequences for the cyclist.
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