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I always try to stay out of other drivers’ blind spots. I’m worried that they won’t notice me, try to pull into my lane and then slam into me. My partner says I shouldn’t worry because most cars these days have blind spot detection – and, anyway, it’s that driver’s responsibility to make sure they can change lanes safely, not mine. Who’s right here? – Tim, Ottawa
When it comes to the drivers around you, if you’re out of sight, you’re probably out of mind.
“If you’re in their blind spot, they’re not going to see you – and you’re asking to be hit,” said Sean Shapiro, a road safety expert and former Toronto traffic cop.
Most cars have a blind spot where the side and rear-view mirrors can’t show you whether another car is there – and you should stay out of it, Shapiro said.
“If I’m in someone’s blind spot for more than three or four seconds, I should be asking myself why,” said Angelo DiCicco, chief executive officer of the Ontario Safety League, a non-profit focusing on driver education.
While that other driver should be looking in their side mirrors – which can reduce or eliminate blind spots in most vehicles when they’re properly adjusted – and shoulder checking to make sure it’s clear before moving into your lane, plenty of drivers don’t, DiCicco said.
Another reason not to hang out next to another car is that you may need to swerve into that lane if there’s an emergency – for instance, if the car in front of you slams on its brakes and you might not be able to stop in time.
The easiest way to get out of another car’s blind spot is to adjust your speed, either by easing off the accelerator or braking lightly, DiCicco said.
Blind leading the blind?
Many newer cars have blind spot warning (BSW) – which uses sensors or cameras to detect vehicles in the next lane, but the car beside you might not.
Even if the other car has BSW, the driver might not be paying attention. Many systems just flash a yellow light in the side mirror.
“If you’re not checking the side mirror, you’re not going to see the light,” Shapiro said.
Some other systems give an audible alert or vibrate the steering wheel, but some drivers can get so numbed by various beeps and alerts that they just ignore them, DiCicco said.
Also, some active-assist systems will prevent you from moving into the lane if there’s a car in it.
While research from the U.S.-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has shown BSW reduces lane-change crashes by about 14 per cent, it has limits.
Depending on the system, BSW doesn’t always see bikes or motorcycles. Also, it might not see a car that’s farther back in the next lane but is going so fast that it might not be able to avoid you if you pull in front of it.
Or, for example, it might not see a car two lanes over that’s about to move into the same lane that you are.
Blind-spot warning can’t fully understand what’s happening on the road the way you can, when you’re paying attention, DiCicco said.
And if you move into the next lane when you shouldn’t and cause a crash, you can’t blame BSW.
“You can’t say ‘but [blind spot warning] told me it was okay,’ ” Shapiro said. “That’s like driving into the river because you were following your GPS.”
Shoulder responsibility?
In Ontario, the law states you can’t change lanes unless you’re sure it’s safe, but police typically will only give you a ticket if you get into a crash, Shapiro said. It’s an $85 fine ($150 in a community safety zone) and three demerit points.
The rules vary by province, but most, including British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, have similar wording.
Even though the law doesn’t specifically say you have to shoulder check before changing lanes, you always should, Shapiro said.
Ontario’s Driver’s Handbook states you should check your mirrors, look over your shoulder to make sure it’s clear and signal. Then, just before you move into that lane, quickly look again.
“Things may have changed in the split seconds since you looked,” he said.
If you do make an unsafe move, don’t assume other drivers will be able to avoid you in time or that they’re even paying attention to what you’re doing.
“You can’t rely on technology or other drivers to keep you safe,” Shapiro said. “So many people are asleep at the wheel – their eyes may be open, but they’re not actively driving.”
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