Can that driver see you on your motorbike?

Every car, van and lorry has spots the driver can’t see in their mirrors. Tap a spot around each vehicle to find out if the driver is likely to see you there, then check what the Highway Code says.

Put your bike in a spot around a car, a van or a lorry. Guess whether the driver can see you, then find out, with what the Highway Code says.

Car

A typical hatchback or saloon with a rear window and three mirrors.

1 In view 2 In view 3 Look round 4 In view 5 Look round 6 Look round 7 Mirror 8 Mirror 9 Mirror

Driver’s seat. Not to scale.

All 9 spots around the car

  1. Just in front In view

    The driver can see you through the windscreen, but may still not notice you. Motorcyclists are often hard to see, especially at junctions and roundabouts. Highway Code rule 211

  2. In front, on the left In view

    Usually in view. If the car turns left or pulls in, the driver may not expect a bike on that side. Drivers are told to watch for motorcycles filtering through traffic. Highway Code rule 160

  3. Level with the driver, on the left Only if they look round

    You are beside the passenger seat. The driver has to turn their head to see you, and may not. Riders waiting alongside or filtering are often missed. Highway Code rule 211

  4. Level with the driver, on the right In view

    Beside the driver’s window, a glance to the right shows you. Don’t sit here: pass or drop back. Overtaking and filtering are times when drivers miss riders. Highway Code rule 211

  5. Beside the back, on the left Only if they look round

    A classic blind spot. The mirrors may not show you, so the driver only sees you if they look over their shoulder. Drivers are told to look round for the areas mirrors can’t show. Highway Code rule 159

  6. Beside the back, on the right Only if they look round

    Just behind the driver’s shoulder is where drivers changing lanes miss riders. The Highway Code reminds drivers there will be blind spots and they need to look round. Don’t linger here. Highway Code rule 161

  7. Close behind In their mirrors

    The rear-view mirror should show you, but this close you have little time to react if they brake. Riders coming up from behind are often hard to see. Highway Code rule 211

  8. Further back, in line In their mirrors

    Usually visible in the rear-view mirror. Drivers should use their mirrors often so they know what is behind them. Highway Code rule 161

  9. Dropped back and out to the right In their mirrors

    Often the best place: you can see the road ahead and you show up in the driver’s door mirror. Riders are told to position themselves so drivers in front can see them in their mirrors. Highway Code rule 88

Van

A panel van with no side or back windows, so no view out of the back.

1 In view 2 In view 3 Look round 4 In view 5 Blind spot 6 Blind spot 7 Blind spot 8 Blind spot 9 Mirror

Driver’s seat. Not to scale.

All 9 spots around the van

  1. Just in front In view

    The driver sits higher than in a car, but a bike close in front can still be missed. Motorcyclists are often hard to see. Highway Code rule 211

  2. In front, on the left In view

    Usually in view through the windscreen and passenger window. Take care if the van turns left: drivers are told to watch for traffic coming up on the left first. Highway Code rule 182

  3. Level with the driver, on the left Only if they look round

    Beside the passenger door. The driver has to look right across the cab to see you. Riders waiting alongside are often missed. Highway Code rule 211

  4. Level with the driver, on the right In view

    Beside the driver’s window, a glance to the right shows you. Pass or drop back rather than sitting here. Highway Code rule 211

  5. Beside the back, on the left Blind spot

    Most panel vans have no side or back windows, so looking over a shoulder shows only the inside of the van. If the door mirror misses you, you are hidden. Highway Code rule 159

  6. Beside the back, on the right Blind spot

    Behind the driver on a van with no windows. A shoulder check won’t show you and the door mirror may not either. The Highway Code says there will be blind spots. Don’t stay here. Highway Code rule 161

  7. Close behind Blind spot

    With no back window the rear-view mirror is no use, and the door mirrors can’t see straight behind the van. The Highway Code calls the area behind a vehicle a blind spot. Highway Code rule 202

  8. Further back, in line Blind spot

    Even further back, the van’s body hides you from both door mirrors if you are right in line. Move over until you can see the driver’s mirror. Highway Code rule 88

  9. Dropped back and out to the right In their mirrors

    Dropped back and out to the right, you show up in the driver’s door mirror and can see past the van. Riders are told to position themselves so drivers in front can see them in their mirrors. Highway Code rule 88

Lorry

An articulated lorry: a high cab and a long trailer.

1 Blind spot 2 Blind spot 3 Blind spot 4 In view 5 Mirror 6 Mirror 7 Blind spot 8 Blind spot 9 Mirror

Driver’s seat. Not to scale.

All 9 spots around the lorry

  1. Just in front Blind spot

    Right in front of a lorry cab you can be below the driver’s line of sight. Don’t stop here: sit where you can see the driver. Lorry drivers may not be able to see you, especially near junctions. Highway Code rule 76

  2. In front, on the left Blind spot

    The front left corner of a lorry is one of the hardest places for the driver to see. If the lorry turns left, you are in its path. Highway Code rule 76

  3. Level with the driver, on the left Blind spot

    Alongside the passenger side of the cab is the most dangerous place to be. THINK! says a third of cyclist–lorry collisions happen with lorries turning left. Only pass on the left when the lorry is stopped or moving slowly, and take care. Highway Code rule 67

  4. Level with the driver, on the right In view

    Beside the driver’s door, the driver can see you through their window if they look. Don’t linger: pass briskly or drop back. Highway Code rule 211

  5. Beside the back, on the left In their mirrors

    Along the trailer the nearside mirrors should show you, but when a lorry turns left its back wheels cut in towards the kerb. Keep well clear. Highway Code rule 67

  6. Beside the back, on the right In their mirrors

    The driver’s side mirrors should show you along the trailer. If the lorry signals or moves out, stay back: large vehicles may need extra road space to turn. Highway Code rule 221

  7. Close behind Blind spot

    Close behind a lorry you are hidden from its mirrors, and you can’t see the road ahead. If you follow a large vehicle, the driver may not be able to see you in the mirrors. Highway Code rule 221

  8. Further back, in line Blind spot

    Even well back, if you are right in line with the trailer the mirrors can’t show you. Ease out a little until you can see a mirror. Highway Code rule 221

  9. Dropped back and out to the right In their mirrors

    Drop back and ease out until you can see the driver’s mirror. Pulling back also improves your own view and lets you plan ahead. Highway Code rule 222

What the answers mean

  • In view: The driver can see you by looking ahead or to the side.
  • In their mirrors: You should show up in a mirror, if the driver checks it.
  • Only if they look round: Mirrors are unlikely to show you. The driver has to turn their head.
  • Blind spot: The driver is unlikely to see you at all from their seat.

Five ways to stay seen

  • Get in their mirror. Position yourself so drivers in front can see you in their mirrors (rule 88).
  • Don’t sit in a blind spot. Beside a vehicle’s back corners, pass or drop back rather than riding alongside (rule 161).
  • Hang back from lorries. If you follow a large vehicle, the driver may not be able to see you in the mirrors (rule 221).
  • Never go up the inside of a turning lorry. Its driver may not see you and its back wheels cut in towards the kerb (rule 67).
  • Be bright and take care at junctions. Drivers may not have seen you, or judged your speed, especially at junctions (rule 86).

Questions

Is there an official map of vehicle blind spots?

No. The Highway Code says there will be blind spots and tells drivers to look round before moving off or changing lanes, but it does not map them, and we could not find official measurements on gov.uk. The zones on this page are illustrative.

What is a blind spot?

The Highway Code describes blind spots as the areas a driver is unable to see in the mirrors (rule 159). A driver has to look round to check them, and in some vehicles, like panel vans and lorries, looking round doesn’t help much.

Is filtering past traffic legal?

The Highway Code expects it: it tells drivers to look out for motorcycles filtering through traffic (rule 160) and tells riders to take care and keep their speed low when filtering (rule 88).

This page is a guide, not the law. Always check the Highway Code and official guidance for the full rules.

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