Blind spots are a concern when it comes to heavy vehicles; these are areas that are not visible to the driver even through the vehicle mirrors. And this can pose a big risk to pedestrians, small vehicles and cyclists that are in close proximity to the vehicle.
CLOCS-A which stands for construction logistics and community safety in Australia is an initiative taken to improve safety of construction vehicles and thereby reduce the injuries that are associated with them. This initiative takes into consideration the blind spots of the trucks with regard to its design that can hamper the visibility of the driver. While you may not be able to eliminate blind spots completely using mirrors, there is still the possibility for reducing them. This can be achieved by adjusting and using the mirrors in the proper way. This will allow you to achieve the widest view from the adjacent lanes. In addition to the standard mirrors that come with the vehicle, you can also add more mirrors such as convex mirrors that can expand your field of vision. It is important that all drivers go through training so that they are accustomed to checking the mirror before turning or moving into another lane.
The convex mirrors you can add to improve visibility are called blind spot mirrors.
Some also call these fish eye mirrors and they offer a wider view for the driver so that they can see areas which are generally difficult to observe using the standard vehicle mirrors. These are great for improving situational awareness and you can place them on strategic positions of the vehicle to cover the surrounding area. You have to inspect these mirrors before you start on a journey to make sure these are aligned properly for optimal visibility. The most critical blind spot is the one at the rear which is directly behind the vehicle. And you will not be able to see this using the side or rear view mirrors. While safe practice requires drivers to keep a safe following distance, it is important to rely on cameras, sensors or a spotter to get additional visibility when you are reversing. There can also be backup alarms that can notify the driver about any moving or stationary object or person in the rear.
There are advanced camera systems that can be used to eliminate blind spots.
These systems have multiple cameras placed around the vehicle so that the driver gets a comprehensive view around. And the driver will be provided with a live feed from the cameras so that they can see what is happening in real-time on a monitor. Sensors are also used to great effect at eliminating blind spots. You can integrate the sensors to the vehicle so that an audible or visual warning is given to the driver when the sensor detects an object. This is a great help in minimising collisions. There are also blind spot detection systems that give a warning when the system detects an object or vehicle in the blind spot when the vehicle is changing lanes. These sensors and cameras monitor adjacent lanes to provide this warning.
