A quick look in the mirror is not enough when another road user is travelling beside your car. To understand how to check blind spots safely, think of it as a short, deliberate routine: check your mirrors, indicate when required, then turn your head briefly to look through the relevant side window before you move. That final head check can reveal the cyclist, motorbike or vehicle your mirrors cannot show.
For learner drivers, blind-spot checks are not just something to perform during the WA Practical Driving Assessment (PDA). They are a habit that protects people on busy Perth roads long after the test is over. The goal is to make each check purposeful, timely and safe – not rushed, exaggerated or forgotten. For a full breakdown of what the assessor looks for, see our guide to PDA observation checks.
What is a blind spot?
A blind spot is an area around your vehicle that cannot be seen properly in your interior mirror or side mirrors. In a standard car, the main blind spots sit beside and slightly behind both rear doors. A vehicle travelling in one of these areas can be close enough to create a serious risk, yet remain invisible in your mirrors.
Mirror adjustment reduces blind spots, but it does not remove them. That is why drivers need to look over the appropriate shoulder before changing position on the road. This is often called a head check or shoulder check.
Blind spots matter most when there are smaller or faster-moving road users nearby. A motorbike may approach quickly in traffic. A cyclist may be travelling along the left side of the lane or near the kerb. At an intersection, a pedestrian can be beside your vehicle as you prepare to turn. A good driver expects these possibilities rather than assuming the space is clear.
How to check blind spots in the right order
The right sequence gives you information without taking your eyes from the road for too long. Before any movement, start by checking ahead and assessing the traffic situation. Use your mirrors to understand what is behind and beside you, indicate if your manoeuvre requires it, then perform a brief head check in the direction you intend to move.
For example, when changing lanes to the right, check the interior mirror, then the right side mirror, indicate right, and turn your head quickly to look through the right rear side window. If the blind spot is clear and there is a safe gap, move smoothly into the lane. Keep looking where you are going as you complete the movement.
The head check should be a glance, not a long stare. Turning too far or too slowly can mean you stop monitoring the road ahead. Your instructor may describe it as a quick check that is obvious enough to confirm you looked, but controlled enough to keep the car stable and your attention forward.
If you see a vehicle, bike or person in the blind spot, do not move. Maintain your lane or position, continue to observe, and wait for a safe opportunity. Missing a turn or taking a different route is always safer than forcing a manoeuvre.
Moving off from the kerb
Moving off is one of the first situations where learners need a consistent blind-spot routine. Before pulling away, check ahead, use the interior mirror and side mirror, indicate if needed, then complete a head check towards the traffic side of the vehicle. In Australia, that will commonly be the right side when moving out from the left kerb.
This check is particularly important near schools, shopping areas and residential streets, where cyclists, scooters and pedestrians can appear unexpectedly. Do not rely on hearing alone. Closed windows, music and traffic noise can hide an approaching bike or vehicle.
Changing lanes
Lane changes require planning, not a last-second reaction. Look well ahead so you know which lane you need, then create time to check mirrors and your blind spot properly. If traffic is heavy, indicate early enough to communicate your intention, but only move once another driver has left a safe gap and your head check confirms the space is clear.
Avoid drifting across the line while you are looking. Keep a steady course, complete your observations, then make one smooth sideways movement. On multi-lane roads, check again if there has been a delay. A motorbike can enter your blind spot in only a few seconds.
Turning at intersections and roundabouts
A blind-spot check can be essential before turning, especially when turning left. Check the left side for cyclists travelling beside you and for pedestrians approaching a crossing. Your mirrors help you build the picture, but a quick left shoulder check is often the best way to confirm no one is in the space your car will move through.
At roundabouts, stay aware of traffic beside you and avoid changing lanes unnecessarily. If you must move across, use the full mirror, signal and head-check routine. Roundabouts demand attention in several directions, so good lane planning before you enter makes blind-spot checks easier and safer.
Reversing and manoeuvring
Reversing has different visibility challenges. Mirrors and reversing cameras are useful aids, but neither replaces direct observation. Before reversing, check around the vehicle, including behind it and towards the sides. As you reverse slowly, continue looking in the direction of travel and scan the surrounding area.
A reversing camera shows a limited view and can create false confidence. It may not show a child, trolley, bollard or approaching pedestrian until they are very close. Use it as an extra source of information, not your only one.
Common blind-spot mistakes learners make
The most common mistake is checking too late. If you start your observations only as you begin moving, you have no time to respond safely. Build the check into the preparation stage, before the manoeuvre begins.
Another mistake is using only mirrors. Mirrors are essential, but they cannot show every area beside your car. A head check is the final confirmation before you move sideways, pull away or turn across the path of a cyclist.
Some learners also turn their whole upper body for too long. This can cause the steering wheel to move or take attention away from hazards ahead. Practise a calm, quick head movement while keeping both hands correctly positioned on the wheel. With repetition, it becomes natural.
Finally, do not treat a blind-spot check as a performance for an assessor. During the PDA, an assessor needs to see safe observation, but the real standard is whether your check is appropriate to the situation. A check that is too early may no longer be current when you move. A check that is too late offers little protection. Timing matters.
Set your mirrors up for better visibility
Correct mirror position gives you the best possible starting point. Your interior mirror should provide a clear view through the rear window. Set each side mirror so you can see the lane beside your vehicle and a small edge of your own car. If you can see too much of your car, you are giving up useful road view.
Adjust mirrors before driving away, not while the car is moving. Every vehicle feels slightly different, including the position of the rear pillars and side windows. Take a moment at the start of each lesson or drive to ensure your seating position and mirrors are right for you.
Even with perfectly adjusted mirrors, maintain the head-check habit. The vehicle design, your posture and the position of other road users all affect what you can see.
Build the habit before your driving test
The best way to make blind-spot checks reliable is to practise them in real situations with calm, specific feedback. Start on quieter roads, where you have more time to say your routine aloud if that helps: mirrors, signal, head check, move when safe. Then apply it in busier traffic, at roundabouts and when travelling near cyclists. Transport WA’s free Drive Safe handbook and learner driver resources are also worth reading alongside your lessons.
A qualified instructor can identify whether you are checking at the right moment, looking in the correct direction and keeping full control of the vehicle. At Drive Solo, automatic driving lessons focus on correcting the small habits that can become major safety issues, while preparing learners for the decisions expected in the WA PDA.
Parents can help by allowing their learner time to complete the routine rather than urging them to squeeze into small gaps. Confidence does not mean acting quickly. It means recognising when to wait, checking properly and moving only when the space is genuinely safe.
The safest blind-spot check is the one you complete every time it is needed: brief, deliberate and followed by a sensible decision. Keep practising until it feels as ordinary as checking your mirrors – because on the road, it is.
