Blind Spot Safety for Waterford Driving
May 9, 2016
Blind spots may be a good thing when it comes to a spouse's annoying habits, but when driving an automobile in Waterford, they are definitely to be avoided. So, while it's not good marital advice, it's good auto advice to minimize your own blind spots and stay out of other Detroit are drivers' blind spots, especially when it comes to large, heavy vehicles like trucks and buses.
First, minimize your own blind spots. Do this before you pull out of the driveway or parking space. Adjust your rearview mirror so that you see as much of the area behind you as possible. And, no, this doesn't include the passengers in the back seat. The rearview mirror isn't designed to be a baby monitor.
Next, lean to the side until your head almost touches the driver's side window. Now adjust the driver's side mirror so that it just catches the side of the vehicle. Then, lean to the middle of the car and adjust the passenger's side mirror in the same way. These adjustments will ensure you the widest possible view behind your vehicle.
Of course, you can't eliminate blind spots entirely. There is always an area behind any vehicle where the driver just can't see what's there. The bigger the vehicle, the bigger the blind spot. Toddlers are just the right size to hide in a pickup's or SUV's blind spot. The blind spot on an RV or tractor-trailer can actually hide your crossover! You should always check behind any vehicle before getting in and backing up. And if you sit in the vehicle for a few minutes before backing up, it is to get out and check again, especially if you are pulling out of a neighborhood driveway in Waterford. No precaution is too extreme if it saves the life of a child.
Trucks may cause about 60% of the accidents involving a truck and a car, but 78% of fatalities in such accidents are with the smaller vehicle. The number of fatalities in MI, as well as the number of crashes, could be cut significantly if Waterford drivers learned to properly share MI roads with trucks.
While learning to share Detroit area roads and freeways with trucks and other large vehicles may not seem like preventive auto maintenance, it does, in fact, go hand-in-hand with good car care. Keeping your vehicle out of the body shop can save you big bucks and prevent the stress of a major accident, along with the injuries that could come with it.
The team at Complete Auto Center Pro in Waterford urges you to stay safe, and stay on the road!
Complete Auto Center Pro
5100 Dixie Hwy
Waterford, MI 48329
248.623.1400
Need Service?
More articles from Complete Auto Center Pro
Trip Inspection at Complete Auto Center Pro in Waterford
March 28, 2021
Waterford area drivers love their vehicles. And one of the most enjoyable things about them is taking a road trip. Freedom from daily schedules, new sights and the open road it's great! But there's nothing like vehicle trouble to bring the fun to a grinding halt.Now Waterford drivers can't alwa... More
Fuel Filter Service in Waterford, MI
March 21, 2021
There are a surprising number of small, inexpensive parts that can lead to expensive engine damage when they fail. It doesn't seem right.Fortunately a lot of those things can be taken care of in routine maintenance. They may not be easy to remember because it is a long list, but your service cent... More
Automotive Tips from Complete Auto Center Pro: Causes of Wheel Misalignment
March 14, 2021
When properly aligned, all of your wheels are pointed in the same direction. Your vehicle will track true and handle the way it is designed. Waterford drivers often associate our wheels being knocked out of alignment with an event like a major crash, hitting a pothole, curb or some other object. ... More