01Where are your blind spots?
Your mirrors, when correctly set, give you a wide view behind and to either side — but there are two zones they cannot reach. These sit diagonally behind each shoulder, between the coverage of your door mirrors and what you can see directly ahead.
The size of each blind spot depends on the vehicle. In a standard hatchback they are large enough to hide a motorcycle or bicycle entirely.
There is a third blind spot that learners rarely hear about: the A-pillar. These are the pillars on either side of your windscreen. At junctions, they can completely obscure a pedestrian, cyclist or motorcycle. Leaning slightly forward as you approach brings more of the junction into view past the pillar.
02When a blind spot check is required
The DVSA does not require a blind spot check at every conceivable moment. It requires one in specific situations where mirrors alone are not sufficient to confirm safety.
03How to do a blind spot check correctly
A blind spot check is a quick glance over the shoulder — not a full head turn. The correct technique is brief, deliberate, and visible to the examiner. It should take around one second.
A brief, deliberate turn of the head lasting about one second, immediately before moving. The examiner can clearly see your head move.
A tiny eye-movement that does not cover the blind spot zone. Checking too early — then moving several seconds later without rechecking.
The most common blind spot error on test is doing it too early. Checking over your shoulder, then waiting ten seconds before moving without rechecking is not a valid blind spot check. The check must be immediately before you move.
04Left shoulder or right shoulder?
The direction of the check matches the direction of movement.
- Pulling out into traffic — right shoulder
- Angle start (pulling out from behind a parked vehicle) — right shoulder
- Changing to the right lane — right shoulder
- Changing to the left lane — left shoulder
- After emergency stop — both shoulders before moving off
- Pull-up-on-the-right reverse — both shoulders during the reverse
When moving off at an angle from behind a parked vehicle, some learners check the left shoulder by habit. The correct check is over the right shoulder — because you are moving right into the traffic lane.
05Common questions
Yes. A well-practised blind spot glance takes about one second and has minimal effect on steering. Mirror first, signal, glance over the shoulder, then move. The glance is brief and deliberate.
Wait. This is exactly what the check is for. If a vehicle, cyclist or motorcycle is in your blind spot, you do not move. Wait for the space to clear, then recheck before moving.
No — they are different and both are required. The MSM mirror check uses your interior and door mirrors. The blind spot check is an additional over-the-shoulder glance. See the MSM guide for how the two fit together.
During bay parking, parallel parking, and the pull-up-on-the-right exercise, effective all-round observation is required throughout. See the parallel parking guide for the full observation sequence.