Lorries are indispensable to our economy and to logistics chains, but their size and construction also bring dangers. One of the biggest concerns is the blind spot of a lorry. This can lead to serious accidents. Practice proves it too: there are still a great many victims of blind spot accidents. Both young people and older people turn out to be very vulnerable to blind spot accidents. This page describes the situation in the Netherlands.
The four blind spots of a lorry
A lorry may have a lot of mirrors, but a driver still cannot see everything. Literally and figuratively. One reason is that the cab turns when the lorry takes a bend, so that some of the mirrors no longer show what they are supposed to show. And what happens behind the load is a mystery to the lorry driver in any case. This makes a lorry a dangerous road user. Other road users should therefore be well aware of the four blind spots of a lorry.
Directly in front of the lorry
A first important blind spot is directly in front of the lorry. The driver sits very high up and cannot see everything that happens in front of the cab. That is why it is important that cyclists at a junction, for example, keep enough distance and do not position themselves right in front of the cab. Pedestrians crossing the road also need to pay close attention. Always make eye contact to prevent a blind spot accident.
Sides of the lorry
Another blind spot is along the sides of the lorry, close to the vehicle and low on the road. There, the lorry driver cannot see other road users in the mirror. It is important not to position yourself close beside a lorry, but to keep enough distance or to stay far enough behind it. Staying behind also allows you to watch the lorry's indicators.
Behind the lorry on the right
In principle, the driver sits at the front left of the lorry. This makes the area behind the lorry on the right very difficult for the driver to oversee. Road users should stay out of this area. Note that British drivers sit at the front right of the lorry. For them, this blind spot is therefore on the other side of the lorry.
Behind the lorry
A lorry pulls a heavy load. The lorry driver cannot simply look through a rear window. As a result, the driver cannot see what is happening directly behind the truck. More and more trucks have a rear camera, but many old trucks do not have this technology. And even when they do, it remains difficult for the driver to get a good overview of the entire traffic situation.
Dealing with the blind spots of a lorry
It is important not only to know where the four blind spots of a lorry are, but also to deal with them correctly. Being careful is especially important for vulnerable road users. Lorry drivers have more and more technical aids that help prevent blind spot accidents, but not all lorries are equipped with them yet.
Staying out of the blind spot of a lorry
As a pedestrian or cyclist, you are extremely vulnerable and you can easily end up in one of the four blind spots of a lorry. There are a number of rules of thumb that help you avoid ending up in the blind spot of a lorry.
- Know exactly where the different blind spots of a lorry are (see above)
- Never position yourself directly in front of or directly beside the cab of a lorry
- Never wait beside the load body or semi-trailer of a lorry, and do not cycle beside it either
- Never stand directly behind the semi-trailer or load body of a lorry
- If a lorry slows down at a junction or waits at a red light, always stay three metres behind the lorry (behind it on the right)
- Position yourself far enough forward in a cyclists' waiting box
- Always make eye contact with the lorry driver to be sure that he has seen you, and clearly indicate what you intend to do, for example when crossing
- Let a lorry go first when it wants to enter or leave a roundabout, because this is where you are often in a blind spot
These general rules of thumb help prevent a collision with a lorry. There are also many other things you can do to avoid a collision. For example, make sure you have good bicycle lights and read our tips for cycling safely.
Technical aids to prevent blind spot accidents
Blind spot accidents can be prevented in several ways. For example, there are different types of mirrors that help enlarge the lorry driver's field of vision. It is important, though, that these mirrors are adjusted correctly. There are also camera systems that help with blind spots. These systems can consist of a traditional camera with a display, but can also include infrared systems that make detection possible at night.
Radar systems and ultrasonic detection systems, in which the driver receives an alarm signal when there is an object in the blind spot, are also an effective solution. There are also passive solutions that can be used to alert other road users to the danger, such as information stickers. It is also possible to limit the consequences of a blind spot accident, for example by shielding the wheels.
Prevalence of blind spot accidents in the Netherlands
The good news is that the number of blind spot accidents in the Netherlands has fallen over the past decades. And that while traffic has only become busier. This is due to improved technical aids and a general improvement in road safety. Even so, blind spot accidents still happen too often. According to SWOV, the Dutch Institute for Road Safety Research, eight to nine people are killed every year in blind spot accidents involving a lorry, and on average two people in blind spot accidents involving a van. When people are admitted to hospital, it is relatively often with serious injuries, such as a brain injury.
Risk groups in blind spot accidents
According to research, older cyclists are at greater risk of becoming the victim of a fatal accident with a lorry. According to a factsheet by the road safety association Veilig Verkeer Nederland (pdf), the age groups 0 to 11, 40 to 49, 60 to 74 and 75+ are over-represented among the victims of blind spot accidents. In the age category 30 to 39, there is under-representation. In other words, it is mainly older people and very young children who become victims of blind spot accidents.
Remarkably, earlier research has shown that most victims of a blind spot accident were reasonably to very familiar with the local traffic situation. An unclear, confusing (familiar) traffic situation in particular plays an important role in the occurrence of blind spot accidents in the Netherlands. Not having your mind fully on the traffic, not (being able to) make eye contact with the driver and not being able to see what the driver intends to do are also important factors that contribute to blind spot accidents in the Netherlands.
The research also shows that accidents mainly happen when a lorry wants to turn right and the cyclist wants to go straight on. Legally, the cyclist then has priority. The cyclist often wrongly assumes that the lorry driver has seen him or her. Cyclists are also not always aware that the lorry driver wants to turn right.
Rules on the blind spot
The rules on the blind spot are intended to improve road safety. This is done by requiring drivers to take extra precautions. Lorry manufacturers are also required to develop safer lorries. In many countries, including the Netherlands, it is compulsory to use mirrors or cameras to cover the blind spot.
Dutch rules on the blind spot
Lorries have to meet various requirements. For example, a lorry must have a mirror that makes it possible to look into the blind spot. If lorries have a large mirror, they do not need an extra blind spot mirror. Lorries that were already in use (registered from 1 January 2000) had to be fitted on the passenger side, by 31 March 2009 at the latest, with wide-angle and kerb mirrors that meet Directive 2003/97/EC, under Directive 2007/38/EC. That was a one-off requirement.
Since 26 January 2007, lorries must also have a front-view mirror or a front-view camera. This allows the lorry driver to look directly in front of the lorry. This requirement does not apply to older lorries.
Rules on the blind spot in other countries
Directive 2003/97/EC (for new lorries from 26 January 2007) and Directive 2007/38/EC (for lorries already in use, by 31 March 2009 at the latest) have made blind spot mirrors on lorries compulsory throughout the EU. This requirement had existed in our country for longer. Abroad, extra rules sometimes apply that are meant to help prevent blind spot accidents. In France, for example, a blind spot sticker is compulsory for vehicles with a maximum authorised mass (MTM) of more than 3,500 kilograms. This blind spot sticker must bear the words «Attention! Angles Morts». In Germany, certain vehicles have been required since 2020 to have an Abbiegeassistent, a kind of blind spot assistant. In addition, newly registered lorries throughout the EU have had to be fitted with a blind spot information system since 7 July 2024; for new types, this already applied from 6 July 2022 (Regulation (EU) 2019/2144, Annex II).
Liability in a blind spot accident
In a blind spot accident, the lorry driver can be held liable for any damage or injuries. This is because the driver is required to take extra precautions to cover the blind spot, such as using mirrors or cameras. If the driver does not meet these obligations and an accident happens, he or she can be held liable for the consequences. In addition, the law protects vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians. In an accident with a vulnerable road user, the lorry driver will almost always have to compensate (part of) the damage.
It is therefore important that a lorry driver has good insurance, a lorry insurance policy that protects him or her against the costs of any liability claims. Lorry insurance can protect the driver against the costs of damage to the vehicles involved and the costs of any injury to the occupants of the vehicles involved. A comprehensive lorry insurance policy will also cover own damage to the lorry.
All about lorry insuranceRead also: Continuous driving time for lorries and The overtaking ban for lorries.
Frequently asked questions about the blind spot of a lorry
The blind spot of a lorry can be a great danger to other road users. Many people think that a lorry has only one blind spot, but there are actually four. It is important to clear up this and other misunderstandings, which is why we answer a number of frequently asked questions about the blind spot of a lorry.
What is the blind spot of a lorry?
The blind spot is an area around a vehicle that the driver cannot see, not even with the mirrors. A lorry has four blind spots: directly in front of the lorry, the sides of the lorry, behind the lorry on the right and directly behind the lorry. Cameras and special mirrors can eliminate or reduce the blind spot.
How big is the blind spot of a lorry?
The size of the blind spot depends on the size of the vehicle, the position of the mirrors and the angle at which the mirrors are set. With a lorry, however, the blind spot can be considerably larger than with a passenger car or a van. That is why it is important to always keep enough distance and not to position yourself directly in front of, directly beside or directly behind a lorry.
Is it compulsory to use special mirrors for the blind spot?
Yes, in many countries it is compulsory to use special mirrors that help prevent blind spot accidents. In the Netherlands, this has been compulsory since 2003. Throughout the EU, the requirement follows from Directive 2003/97/EC (new lorries from 26 January 2007) and Directive 2007/38/EC (lorries already in use, by 31 March 2009 at the latest).
Is it compulsory to take out specific insurance for blind spot accidents?
No, there is no need to take out special insurance for this. The third-party liability insurance (WA) for a lorry will cover any damage for which the lorry driver is liable. If a lorry has safety systems, for example special detectors or cameras, this can result in a discount on the WA premium. In theory, lorries with a higher risk of blind spot accidents will therefore pay more for their lorry insurance.
How can I avoid the blind spot of a lorry?
The best thing is to stay as far behind a lorry as possible, so that the driver can see you and you can see the indicators. It is also important to give the lorry driver enough room if you do end up driving beside him. Special mirrors and cameras can also ensure that a lorry is not affected by a blind spot.