What are the areas outside your field of vision and not visible in rear-view mirrors commonly called?

Study for the Just Drive Test. Boost your driving knowledge with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Prepare for success!

Blind spots are the areas outside your direct field of vision and not seen in rear-view mirrors. They happen because your seating position and the way mirrors are shaped and angled don’t cover every angle around the car, so there are small zones to the sides and rear where another vehicle can hide from view. That’s why you must do a shoulder check before changing lanes or merging—looking over your shoulder lets you see into those hidden zones before you move. You can reduce blind spots by adjusting mirrors so you minimize the angle where a vehicle can hide: position the driver’s mirror so you can just see the side of your car in it, and angle the other mirrors to broaden your view of adjacent lanes. Some vehicles also benefit from additional convex mirrors on the doors to further widen the visible area. Terms like shadow zones or viewing gaps aren’t the standard driving terms; the common term for these hidden areas is blind spots.