Small Cars Should Know: When Driving Close to Large Vehicles, Beware of Blind Spots to Avoid Collisions

Small car drivers should know that when driving close to trucks, trailers, or any large vehicles, they must be cautious of blind spots, as failing to brake in time can cause collisions.

• In front, driving too close to large vehicles is dangerous and increases accident risk if braking is delayed. Besides the height blocking vision, large vehicles also have heavy weight, making close-range braking difficult.

Recommendation: Maintain a distance of 2-3 vehicle lengths.

• The left side is the most dangerous because the side mirror is far away, resulting in a narrow field of vision and difficulty seeing other vehicles.

Recommendation: Avoid driving side by side and steer clear of the left side of trucks.

• On the right, the height of large vehicles creates blind spots, preventing side mirrors from seeing vehicles driving alongside.

Recommendation: Small cars should not drive directly beside trucks or large vehicles. Instead, stay within the side mirror’s range—roughly from behind the truck’s cabin onward—to remain visible.

• At the rear, tall, opaque container trucks block rearview mirror visibility, obscuring the view of vehicles behind.

Recommendation: Small cars should keep a safe distance from large vehicles, be alert for trucks reversing, and always watch the truck’s brake lights.

Information courtesy of The Department of Land Transport