15. Use Mirrors and Check Blind Spots
Safe driving isn’t just about looking ahead, it’s about being aware of everything around you.
Mirrors and blind spot checks are critical tools to prevent accidents, especially in India’s crowded traffic conditions.
What Are Blind Spots?
Blind spots are areas around your vehicle that you cannot see directly through mirrors. They vary depending on the vehicle type:
- Cars: Areas beside and slightly behind the vehicle
- Two-wheelers: Limited rear visibility without mirrors
- Trucks and buses: Large blind zones on both sides and behind
Blind spots hide pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, making them a major cause of collisions.
Why It Matters in India
- Heavy mix of cars, bikes, autos, buses, and pedestrians
- Frequent lane changes and overtaking in congested roads
- Two-wheelers often squeeze into side gaps
- Pedestrians may cross suddenly from blind zones
- Trucks and buses with large blind spots pose extra risks
Checking mirrors and blind spots is vital in India’s unpredictable traffic.
How to Use Mirrors Correctly
- Adjust rear-view mirror to cover the entire rear window
- Set side mirrors to minimize overlap with rear-view coverage
- Glance at mirrors every few seconds to stay aware
- Use mirrors before changing lanes, turning, or overtaking
- Combine mirror checks with shoulder checks for blind spots
Common Myths
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| "Mirrors show everything." | They miss blind spots. You must look over your shoulder. |
| "I only need mirrors on highways." | Blind spots exist everywhere, even in city traffic. |
| "Two-wheelers don’t need mirrors." | Mirrors are legally required and critical for rider safety. |
Legal Rules in India
- All vehicles must have functioning mirrors
- Riding without mirrors on two-wheelers can lead to fines
- In accidents, failure to check blind spots may be considered negligence
Key Takeaways
- Mirrors and blind spot checks are non-negotiable for safe driving
- They protect you and vulnerable road users
- Awareness is the best defense against accidents
Real life examples
Accidents like this are more likely when drivers fail to check their side-view mirrors, especially on blind curves where visibility is compromised. Establishing a routine of regularly inspecting these mirrors is vital, as it minimizes blind spots and heightens awareness of
Location : Pondicherry Before opening the car door, check the mirrors and shoulder check by turning the head and use the left hand to open the door.
Most bikers change lanes without checking the mirror for what’s coming in the next lane. It’s possible that this guy recently bought a car and was not taught to use the mirrors. Costly mistake. #roadsafety
Kalesh b/w a New Car and Truck pic.x.com/LMcZcVhrUp
Truck breaks mirror in Maharashtra 🚨 There was NO reason for truck to change lanes this abruptly. Yet the truck driver went on to change lane and ended up breaking car’s mirror! The image in the thread below of mirror flying is going to hurt the car driver so much ⬇️
Always open the car door from the inside with the hand furthest from the handle. It forces you to turn your body and check behind you. It also allows you to check your rear-view and wing mirrors as you swivel. (Parking on the carriage way always attracts danger)
Before opening the door of your car on public roads, make sure to check in the side or rear view mirror for vehicles coming from behind to avoid such accidents. Be mindful and careful! #roadsafety #rules #safety #drive #drivesafe #traffic
This is how @BMTC_BENGALURU buses change lanes in Bengaluru just to overtake without any real need. Being the longest vehicles on the road, every lane change puts two wheelers, cars and pedestrians at risk. They speed, stop abruptly and rarely halt at proper bus stops, creating
Location : Mysuru Expressway This clip was shared with me about a close call faced by one of our follower community. On expressways and highways,it's becoming common and to avoid that,I'm moving to the right lane near entry/exit points. There's more to it. Read below 👇
Overtaking gone wrong! This is why overtaking an already overtaking vehicle will result in
Viewer discretion is advised
Urgent help needed My friend's father died in a fatal accident. He was the only earner with a salary of less than ₹12K/mon. They don't even have money to perform his last rites Please retweet, share, and donate any amount to the bank account below. UPI: devimanbha99@okaxis
Location : Gujarat Wrong side driving 😬 Not checking mirrors 😵💫 Auto unable to stop 🛺 Gap in medians are more of a risk than benefit. Controlled Intersections are better on our roads. It's better to wait for a few seconds than to worry about the wrong side drivers.
Two clips from different locations but the situation is the same. Clip 1 : Coorg Clip 2: Calicut Lesson for Cars : Check mirrors before changing position on the road Lesson for Bikers : Avoid driving parallel to cars or any vehicles Always be alert on the road.
Location : Mumbai - Agra Highway On Indian roads,we always take risks and hope nothing happens. Truck turning casually without checking and pedestrians trying to cross a highway which lacks safe infrastructure for pedestrians !
Location : Jharkhand Biker is not even aware of Blindspots and just squeezing through gaps ! Why can't we wait? We value time more than life! Some actions are irreversible!! @motordave2
Dear Two Wheeler Riders, There is a part on your vehicle, it's called Rear View Mirror. Feel free to use it often. Issued in public interest. (Video claimed to be from Kerala.)
In India, sometimes we can't figure out if it's a blind spot or blind driver. 😬 @RSGuy_India
Not for the faint-hearted
Front Blind Spot Hazards : A Thread 🧵 We cannot react to a hazard, if we can't see them. This problem unfortunately didn't get much attention but it is one of the high risk scenarios where crashes happen at low speeds and at areas which are familiar to the driver and most
Happened in AP a few days ago. Overtaking the pedestrian is more important than staying away from the blindspot of heavy vehicles. Lack of hazard perception. As usual,media reports it as speeding truck hits the biker,but it's the biker's fault. #HazardPerception @RSGuy_India
Please check your surroundings at all times.
Why are rear view mirrors essential on the road !!! Mirrors are only for this reason. If he had seen,he would've escaped by speeding !! #IndianRoads
Before you change lanes or turn, ask yourself:
Have I checked my mirrors and blind spots?
Drive aware. Drive safe. Protect lives.