How Big is Your Blind Spot? Find Out Before It's Too Late

June 9, 2008 - Hopefully, every new driver is frequently warned about his or her "blind spot" and the dangers of not accounting for it properly. How many drivers, however, account for the differing sizes of their blind spots when they change vehicles? Child fatalities caused by drivers who backed into the "invisible" kids behind them seem to answer this question negatively. According to a nonprofit group devoted to child safety around cars (Kids and Cars), over half of all non-traffic accidents resulting in child fatality between 2001 and 2006 were caused by "backover" incidents. In addition, every week in the United States, a minimum of 50 children are backed into by vehicles due to driver oversight.
Why are the numbers so high? Consumer Reports believes that the difference in blind spot size between larger vehicles (like SUVs and minivans) and smaller cars contributes to the statistic. In order to educate the public on the significant sizes of blind spots, the organization conducted an experiment in which it measured the blind spots of many popular vehicle models. One result revealed that some blind zones expand over 50 feet behind the vehicle. To read other results and learn more about the design of the study, click here.  In order to ensure that you avoid "backover" accidents, always view your surroundings before entering your vehicle and check your area again upon entry.