Hi there, my name is Amanda and I'm part of the Video Production team here at Gregg Distributors.
Thanks for checking out Gear up With Gregg's!
Today, we're going to talk about road safety.
Specifically, the mirrors used by larger vehicles and why you should give them more of a buffer
on the road than you think.
But before we get into that, remember to like this video or subscribe down below if you
want more great content on your horizon.
Now, I know that for me, one of the most intimidating things on the highway is passing a semi truck.
And for good reason!
Despite popular belief that truckers can see better because they are higher off the ground,
they have some serious blind spots that can make it difficult
to see other vehicles on the road.
A truck's blind spots are areas where your car is no longer visible, or where you are
too close for the truck to be able to stop or maneuver safely.
When you are travelling in a truck's "No Zone," you are at a much higher risk of getting into
a collision.
The left-side "No Zone" begins along the driver's side door, and extends toward the middle of
the trailer.
Even cars right beside the driver's door on a large truck can be hidden from view.
The right-side "No Zone" begins at the front of the truck and extends all the way to the
back of the trailer.
The front "No Zone" of a truck can extend as far as 6 meters, or 20 feet, in front of
the bumper.
Large trucks have no rear-view mirrors, and no way of seeing directly behind their trailer,
so they have no way of seeing you.
This rear "No Zone" can extend up to 60 meters, or 200 feet.
A good rule of thumb if that if you can't see the driver's reflection in their side
mirror, there's a good chance that they can't see you either.
The basic side mirrors on a large truck are called West Coast Mirrors.
These mirrors are designed to provide drivers with the maximum visibility possible.
They come in aluminum
and stainless steel,
and can be painted white
or black.
They can even be heated for those frosty days,
or lit for night-time visibility.
With so many different options, and the best rear visibility available, it's obvious why
these mirrors are the top choice for big rigs.
In addition to the standard West Coast Mirrors, trucks commonly have a round, convex mirror
mounted on or near the doors.
Convex mirrors are used on vehicles because they provide a wide angle, upright image
which expands a driver's field of view.
Over-the-door mirrors are another type of convex reflective surface that's used to increase
the visibility along the side of the vehicle.
These mirrors are surrounded by stainless steel, which means they resist rust.
Another type of mirror are these hood-mounted mirrors,
which are tripod-mounted systems that attach to the front fenders.
These increase a driver's field of view, and minimize, or eliminate certain blind spots.
Lastly, there's the combination West Coast Mirrors.
These mirrors bring together the best of both worlds, with a convex spot mirror included
at the base of the rectangular shape.
If you're only planning to invest in one type of mirror, this one fits the bill.
When choosing, mounting, and adjusting mirrors it's important to make sure that they have
complementary fields of view.
This means that what the mirrors reflect should overlap to some degree, but not 100%.
After all, each mirror has its own job.
And if you need replacement parts, like mounting brackets, heating elements, and extension arms,
don't worry!
We've got everything you need right here at Gregg's.
And hey, if you don't drive a big rig, don't think we've forgotten about you!
We also carry delivery van mirrors along with light and medium-duty truck mirrors.
These mirrors are sized for these types of vehicles, to provide the maximum amount of visibility.
So stay safe out there!
But if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us, or you can visit our
website at greggdistributors.ca.
Again, I'm Amanda, and have a great Canadian Day!