Improve your Rear Visability for Safer Reversing
Modern vehicle designs often prioritise style and function, but rear visibility can suffer as a result. While many everyday vehicles have smaller rear windows, higher boot lids, and rear head restraints that limit visibility, the risk is even greater in our traffic fleet and delivery vehicles. Arrow boards, signage frames, pod truck fixtures, and boxes in our delivery vans can significantly obstruct the driver’s rearview mirror and increase blind spots. These challenges make reversing more difficult and raise the risk of incidents. Understanding your vehicle’s limitations and making the most of available safety features can help you reverse with greater awareness and confidence
Why This Matters
Poor rear visibility isn’t just inconvenient — it can lead to serious reversing incidents, including collisions with vehicles, property, or pedestrians. The risk is even greater in traffic vehicles like Utes, pod trucks, and delivery vans, where mounted equipment, signage, and loose items like core flutes, cones, and boxes often obstruct the rearview. Understanding your blind spots and using all available equipment and driver-assist technology, such as mirrors, reversing cameras, and sensors, helps reduce the risk of costly damage and prevent accidents.
What Affects Rear Visability?
- Vehicle Design – Many modern cars have smaller rear windows, higher boot lids, and larger rear head restraints, limiting drivers’ ability to see behind them.
- Blind Spots – SUVs and higher-riding vehicles often have larger blind spots than smaller cars. In traffic vehicles, mounted signage and loose equipment can further obstruct the driver’s view, making reversing more difficult.
Improving Rear Visibility
Reversing Cameras and Sensors
- Reversing Cameras & Sensors help drivers see more of what’s behind them. These features are especially useful in detecting low-lying objects and small children that might not be visible through the rear window.
- Drivers should not rely solely on reversing cameras and sensors. They should also use side and rearview mirrors and perform head checks to ensure full awareness when reversing.
- In traffic vehicles, mounted signage and loose equipment can obstruct the view, so these features are especially valuable
How Rear Visability is Assessed
Rear visibility is assessed by testing how much of a small child-sized object the driver can see from their seat. A laser device, positioned at the driver’s eye level, maps out the areas visible through the rear window. Based on these results, vehicles receive a rating from zero to five stars, reflecting their rear visibility and the effectiveness of their safety technology.
Minimising Your Risk
- Always check your mirrors and physically look behind you before reversing.
- Make full use of reversing cameras and sensors if your vehicle is equipped with them.
- Be extra cautious in areas with pedestrians, especially where children may be present.
- Know your vehicle’s limitations and adjust your driving accordingly, especially when reversing traffic vehicles with obstructed views.
- Take a few extra seconds to ensure your surroundings are clear before reversing.
- Consider using a spotter when reversing in tight or high-risk areas.
While driver-assist features like reversing cameras and sensors are valuable, they’re no substitute for an attentive driver—especially when operating traffic vehicles and delivery vans with added equipment that can block your view. Always take the time to check your surroundings, know your vehicle’s limitations, and reverse with care. In tight or high-risk areas, consider using a spotter to help guide you. A few extra seconds of caution can prevent costly damage and keep everyone on site safe.