Blind spot
The area around your vehicle that none of your mirrors show you, which is why a shoulder check exists.
Mirrors cover most of what is behind you, but not all of it. There is a wedge on each side, roughly over your shoulder, where a vehicle can sit completely hidden — a car in the next lane, or, far more often, a motorcycle or a bicycle. Checking it means physically turning your head, not glancing at the mirror again.
The test asks about this around moving off, changing lanes and turning, because those are the moments when something in the blind spot becomes something you drive into. The routine is mirrors first to see the whole picture, then the blind spot check immediately before you commit.
Large vehicles have much bigger blind spots than cars, including one directly in front of the cab and a long one down the nearside. If you cannot see the driver in their mirror, they cannot see you — which matters most at junctions, where a lorry turning left will swing across anything sitting alongside it.
38 practice questions on this
Each one shows the answer, and our note on why every other option is not it.
Car
- Why should you check for motorcyclists just before turning right into a side road? Vulnerable road users
- Why are vehicle mirrors often slightly curved (convex)? Hazard awareness
- You want to turn right from a main road into a side road. What should you do just before turning? Vulnerable road users
- What should you do when you move off from behind a parked car? Alertness
- What does the term ‘blind spot’ mean? Alertness
Motorcycle
- What's the ‘lifesaver’ when riding a motorcycle? Alertness
- What should you do to move off safely from a parked position? Alertness
- When should you check your blind spots? Alertness
- You're riding on a busy dual carriageway. What should you do before you change lanes? Rules of the road
- What does the term ‘lifesaver’ mean? Alertness
- Why should you check over your shoulder before you change lanes in busy, slow-moving traffic? Alertness
- You're turning right on a multi-lane roundabout. When should you take a lifesaver glance over your left shoulder? Alertness
Lorry & Bus (LGV/PCV)
- You're behind a parked car. What should you do when you're about to move off? Restricted view
- You're driving this lorry and are waiting to turn right. What should you do just before turning? The driver
- You're driving a lorry with a sleeper cab. When would a quick sideways glance be helpful? Restricted view
- Your lorry has a sleeper cab. Why could this make your driving more difficult? Restricted view
- When should you use your mirrors? Leaving the vehicle
- What should you be aware of before opening your cab door? Leaving the vehicle
- What must you do to make sure that you have good all-round vision when driving? Restricted view
- Why might it be difficult to see motorcyclists at junctions? Restricted view
- You want to turn right at a roundabout marked with 2 right-turn lanes. What should you do if there's sufficient room for your vehicle in either lane? Restricted view
- You're driving in the left-hand lane on a three-lane motorway. What should you check for before moving into the middle lane to overtake a slower vehicle? The road
- Why should you take care before moving into the centre lane of a three-lane motorway? The road
- You're at the front of a queue of traffic waiting to turn right into a side road. Why should you check your right-hand mirror just before turning? Other road users
- What does 'blind spot' mean? Restricted view
- You're driving a large vehicle. How does its size and design affect the blind spots? Restricted view
- What must you do before you start reversing? Restricted view
- Why do you have to be alert for motorcyclists in queues of traffic? Other road users
- What must you be aware of when you're driving a bus with a high driving position? Restricted view
- On a coach with high side windows, it can be difficult to see either side. What should you do before you move off in one of these vehicles? Restricted view
- Your bus has a high seating position. What may be out of sight below the windscreen line? Restricted view
Driving Instructor (ADI Part 1)
- Why are vehicle mirrors often slightly convex? Band 2 traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians, mechanical knowledge
- What should you teach your pupils to do when they're learning to turn their vehicle around in the road? Band 1 road procedure
- What should you teach your learners to do before they emerge from a road junction? Band 1 road procedure
- What should a driver do just before they move off? Band 1 road procedure
- Your pupil's been revising for their theory test. They tell you they do not understand the term 'blind spot'. How could you explain it? Band 1 road procedure
- You're driving in falling snow. What should you do if your wipers are not clearing the windscreen? Band 1 road procedure
- What advice should you give your pupils about turning right around to check blind spots while they're driving? Band 1 road procedure