Even though Lithuania has been reducing its number of fatal road accidents for several years in a row, and its road safety index exceeds the EU average, experts say that most drivers and pedestrians still don’t fully comprehend the blind spots of road users, especially those of trucks, and their attendant risks. “Road users’ biggest mistake is thinking that if they can see a truck, its driver will be able to notice them in turn. The reality, though, is somewhat different,” said Singaras Čepaitis, head of the driving instructors’ team at the logistics company Girteka, when talking about the initiative Be Safe on the Road, and the Safe Traffic Caravan that will set off for schools next week.

“Our collective aim is to slash the number of fatal road accidents in half by 2030, and the long-term vision is to reduce it to zero. This requires both infrastructure and continuous awareness raising. In regard to road safety, it’s very important to focus not only on passenger car drivers, but also on the drivers of trucks, and on other road users. It’s crucial to educate the public about how road users interact with one another and how each of us could participate in traffic more safely,” said Vidmantas Pumputis, Senior Advisor to the Road Transport Group under the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

According to Mr. Čepaitis, education efforts regarding trucks on the road should prioritise pedestrians, especially children, as well as cyclists and riders of scooters because they tend to remain unnoticed by truck drivers most often.

This is the reason why the Road Safety Caravan, set to visit schools across Lithuania, is one of the stages of the initiative, aimed at educating the public about road safety, emphasising truck blind spots, braking distance, and other risks. During this stage, pupils will be able to practically experience how reflectors function in the dark, see how truck drivers observe their surroundings, and learn how to conduct themselves safely when next to heavy duty vehicles.
Blind spots make you invisible

“Most people know that passenger cars have blind spots, but compared to those of trucks, they’re not as significant. The height of the cabin and the trailer’s bulk hide large areas of space from the driver’s view. The truck has four blind spots: in front of the cabin, behind the semi-trailer, and on its left and right sides. Although trucks have mirrors, they don’t reflect the whole view, making it crucial for all road users to know that they should act responsibly when moving alongside one,” Mr. Čepaitis said.

According to him, the biggest danger arises when trucks are making a right turn. The driver may have zero view of a pedestrian or cyclist next to the cabin, with the slightest moment of inattention potentially leading to an accident.

“When maneuvering rightwards, trucks can sometimes drift out of their lane. There may also be situations where they veer dangerously close to the sidewalk or crossing,” warned the head of the driving instructors’ team.

 

An experiment to prove the difference

To showcase a truck driver’s actual field of view, the company initiated a social experiment (watch it here). Its participants were asked to take the driver’s seat and survey their surroundings from a parked truck.

“Taking their place in the cabin for the first time, people were surprised that, despite its height and large mirrors, they still failed to notice both pedestrians and vehicles: bicycles, motorcycles, and even cars approaching the truck as they sat behind its wheel. Inside the cabin, participants had zero view of the space in the truck’s front and back, and failed to notice some of the people walking on either side. Such is the visibility from a parked truck, and when it joins traffic, with rapidly changing surroundings and need to maneuver, the situation further deteriorates,” noted Mr. Čepaitis.

According to him, most discussions on road safety focus exclusively on the behaviour of drivers and pedestrians, whereas here the idea was to demonstrate how the road and its users appear in drivers’ eyes.

“Most road users are insufficiently aware of truck blind spots. It’s an area we should focus on more, raising the issue in driving schools and during educational campaigns. Upon experiencing a blind spot first-hand, our behaviour changes. Such practical awareness could give rise to a safety culture that we’ll never be able to create with theory lessons alone,” said the representative of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
How to make sure you’re visible?

It is possible for road users to check if they’re visible, Mr. Čepaitis said:

“The best way to verify that you’re not in a blind spot is via eye contact with the truck’s driver. If you can see his face through the windshield or in the mirror, it means you’re easier to spot. If the driver notices you – even better. Eye contact allows both road users to gauge each other’s presence nearby. If the driver is visible neither in the mirror nor through the truck’s windshield – you’re in its blind spot. The same rule applies to pedestrians, cyclists, and scooter riders, even in cases where they’re just waiting at a crossing. They shouldn’t be shy to wave or nod at the driver to catch his attention”.

 

Road Safety Caravan hits the road to spread its message

The Road Safety Caravan became part of the Be Safe on the Road campaign specifically to spread the message about road safety with respect to trucks. The caravan is set to visit schools across Lithuania. Installed on one of Girteka’s semi-trailers, the reflector zone will allow pupils to learn how reflectors function in the dark and how to put them on correctly. They’ll also be instructed in responsible behaviour upon noticing a truck on the road.

“The caravan will be visiting schools in Lithuanian cities and towns for several weeks. The idea is simple yet important – children should hear about road safety on a regular basis. Especially at the beginning of the school year, when they become more independent and start using public transport on their own, travelling to school and back. Moreover, it’s a period when days get shorter, making reflectors even more important”, said Mindaugas Paulauskas, CEO of Girteka Transport, commenting on the idea behind the campaign. “Children should become familiar with trucks and their blind spots, because the rules that apply to large vehicles differ from those appropriate to passenger cars. Trucks have a big blind spot and a long braking distance. For this reason, children should know how close they can get to a truck safely when walking around one, and how to remain visible”.

According to Mr. Paulauskas, pedestrians, and children especially, often fail to realise that truck blind spots are bigger than those of passenger cars:

“Children who learn how to be safe around such vehicles will be more careful and alert later on. This is an investment not only in the drivers and pedestrians of today, but also in those of the future”.

The project is organised jointly with the educational programme I Choose to Teach. The public institution Be Safe is also set to contribute to the educational activities.