When driving on any California roadway, maintaining situational awareness is a big factor in staying safe. That means no daydreaming or distractions when you’re behind the wheel that might cause you to forget about your blind spots. Different passenger vehicles have different blind spots. Some are larger than others. You don’t want to deviate from your lane of traffic or change lanes into another driver.
California’s Lane Change Law
CVC 22107 lays down the general rule that forbids lane changes that aren’t performed in a safe and careful manner. In pertinent part, it states that a driver cannot turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left on a roadway until such time as “the movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after the giving of an appropriate signal …”
Common Causes of Lane Change Accidents
Lane change accidents are dangerous because the victim’s vehicle is almost always only a few feet away from the offending vehicle. This leaves little or no time for the other driver to safely take evasive action. Here are a few common causes of lane change accidents:
- Failing to properly determine if a lane change will be safe.
- Drowsy driving and falling asleep at the wheel.
- Distracted driving, especially texting while driving.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a combination of the two.
- Driving too fast for weather conditions.
Avoiding Another Driver’s Blind Spots
If you have to be in another driver’s blind spot, you don’t want to remain there for very long. If you see a vehicle just ahead of you in another lane of traffic signal on your side, slow down a bit to let that vehicle in. Continue to slow down to establish a safe interval between you and that car. Don’t think about trying to pass it unless you’re certain that you can do it safely.
Reducing or Eliminating Your Own Blind Spots
Depending on your height, the positioning of your mirrors and the make and model of the vehicle that you’re driving, you might not be able to completely eliminate your blind spots. Before you even pull your can onto a roadway, you should make sure that your mirrors are covering as much of the area around you as possible. Then, when you’re on the road, be mindful of the following:
- If passing another vehicle, don’t stay in its blind spot for too long.
- If you intend on changing lanes, signal for at least five seconds.
- Don’t rely exclusively on your mirrors. Look over your shoulder too before making that lane change.
- Make sure that your field of vision is clear to make that change.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today
Lane departure warning technology is even available now as an option on certain new cars. Here at Maison Law, we take pride in our role in contributing to the safety of our community. If you or a family member suffered injuries that were caused by a lane-changing driver, contact us here at Maison Law for a free confidential consultation and case review. There’s no obligation, and if you retain us to represent you, there’s no retainer fee due either.
