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Ontario’s official driver guidance warns that some vehicle blind spots are large enough to conceal another vehicle while changing the lane.
This raises an important question: where on a vehicle do most lane change collisions occur?
Most lane-change collisions affect the sides of a vehicle, particularly the front quarter panel, front door, rear door, and rear quarter panel.
These crashes usually happen when a driver enters an occupied lane or fails to detect a vehicle travelling beside or slightly behind them.
Blind spots, inadequate mirror checks, failure to shoulder-check, insufficient space, and failure to signal are among the most common contributing factors.
This article explains the most common collision areas, leading causes, and the practical steps drivers can take to change lanes safely.
Therefore, let’s get started!
Most lane-change collisions occur along the side of the vehicle, particularly around the rear side area. The most common point of impact is the rear quarter panel or the area beside the rear doors.
These crashes usually happen when a driver changes lanes without seeing a vehicle beside or slightly behind them.
Most lane-change crashes are sideswipe collisions, not rear-end crashes. The vehicle changing lanes often hits the side of a vehicle that is already in the next lane.
This usually happens because the other vehicle is in the driver’s blind spot.
According to research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), many lane-change crashes happen because drivers fail to notice a vehicle in the next lane before moving over.
The risk is higher in heavy traffic, merging areas, and places where lanes end.
The blind spot is the area beside and slightly behind your vehicle that your mirrors cannot fully show. A vehicle can stay next to your rear door or rear quarter panel without being clearly visible.
This is why many lane-change crashes happen. Looking only at your mirrors may not be enough, especially if the other vehicle is traveling at a similar speed.
To reduce the risk, safety organizations such as the NHTSA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recommend using mirrors together with a brief shoulder check before changing lanes.
If your vehicle has blind-spot monitoring, use it as an extra safety feature, not as a replacement for checking the road yourself.
Lane-change collisions usually damage the front corner of the vehicle changing lanes and the side of the other vehicle.
Because these crashes are often sideswipes, the damage can spread across several body panels instead of staying in one spot.
The front fender is often the first part damaged when a driver moves into another vehicle’s lane.
The front bumper corner commonly takes the first impact during a lane-change collision.
The front wheel arch may be scraped or dented as the vehicles make contact.
The front and rear doors are the most common impact areas on the vehicle already in the lane.
Side panels often have long scratches, dents, and paint marks from the sideswipe.
The rear quarter panel may be hit first if the lane-change collision starts near the back of the vehicle.
Lane-change crashes often leave damage across several panels because both vehicles continue moving after the first impact.
Most lane-change collisions happen because a driver moves into another lane without confirming that it is safe to do so.
A driver may not see a vehicle traveling beside them because it is in the blind spot. Mirrors cannot show every area, so a shoulder check is important before changing lanes.
A shoulder check helps you see vehicles that mirrors can miss. Skipping this quick check increases the risk of a collision.
Changing lanes without enough space is a common cause of crashes. If another vehicle is too close, even a small mistake can lead to a sideswipe.
A turn signal lets other drivers know what you plan to do. It gives them time to slow down or make room, but it does not give you the right of way.
Looking at your phone, adjusting the GPS, eating, or looking away from the road can make you miss a vehicle in the next lane. Even a few seconds of distraction can lead to a crash.
Sometimes two drivers try to move into the same lane at the same time. If neither driver sees the other, a collision can happen before either has time to react.
In most cases, the driver changing lanes is responsible for the collision. Before changing lanes, the driver must make sure it is safe, signal, and avoid interfering with vehicles already in the lane.
A vehicle already driving in its lane usually has the right of way. Before changing lanes, make sure there is enough space to move over safely.
Use your turn signal, check your mirrors, do a shoulder check, and change lanes smoothly without making other drivers brake or swerve.
If you skip these steps, you may be found responsible for the collision.
The fault is based on the evidence, not just the lane change. Police and insurance companies may look at the vehicle damage, point of impact, dashcam footage, witness statements, police reports, and other evidence.
Shared fault may happen if both drivers move into the same lane at the same time, one driver is speeding or driving unsafely, or the actions of both drivers contribute to the crash.
In these cases, the insurance company reviews the evidence and applies the fault rules of the province to decide how responsibility is shared.
Road safety authorities such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and provincial driver handbooks emphasize that a safe lane change depends on checking carefully, using your turn signal, and changing lanes only when there is enough space.
Look at your rear-view and side mirrors first. This helps you see the traffic behind you and in the next lane.
Use your turn signal before changing lanes. This lets other drivers know what you plan to do and gives them time to react.
Do a quick shoulder check before moving over. This helps you spot vehicles that may not appear in your mirrors.
Take one last look before changing lanes. Make sure there is still enough space because traffic can change quickly.
Move into the next lane slowly and smoothly. Keep a steady speed and avoid cutting in too close to another vehicle.
The following steps are recommended after most lane-change collisions.
Stop your vehicle in a safe place and turn on your hazard lights. Check yourself, your passengers, and the other people involved for injuries.
Call 911 immediately if anyone is hurt or there is a safety risk. Leaving before fulfilling your legal responsibilities can create additional problems, so it’s important to understand the rules that apply to a car accident leaving scene.
Exchange your name, contact details, driver’s licence number, licence plate number, vehicle registration, and insurance information with the other driver.
Stay calm and avoid arguing about who caused the crash.
Take clear photos of the vehicles, the damage, licence plates, road markings, traffic signs, and the surrounding area.
Write down the time, location, weather conditions, and the contact details of any witnesses.
Report the collision if your province or territory requires it. If you’re unsure, contact your local police or Collision Reporting Centre and follow their instructions.
Tell your insurance company about the collision as soon as possible. Share accurate details, photos, and any police report number to help start your claim quickly.
Most lane-change collisions affect the sides of the vehicles, particularly the front fender, doors, side panels, and rear quarter panel. They commonly occur when one driver moves into an adjacent lane that is already occupied.
A vehicle travelling beside or slightly behind another car may not be visible in its side mirrors. Canadian driving guidance recommends checking the mirrors and looking over the appropriate shoulder before changing lanes.
An unsafe lane change commonly causes a sideswipe accident, in which the side of one vehicle contacts the side, front corner or rear-side area of another vehicle travelling in the adjacent lane.
The lane-changing driver is often considered responsible when they enter an occupied lane. However, every collision is assessed according to its specific circumstances, including the movements of both vehicles, damage, photographs, dashcam footage, and witness statements.
Most lane-change collisions happen because the driver does not see a vehicle in the blind spot. These crashes usually damage the sides of the vehicles and are often preventable.
Develop the habit of checking your mirrors, using your turn signal, doing a shoulder check, and making sure there is enough space before changing lanes.
Taking a few extra seconds to observe your surroundings is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the risk of a lane-change collision.
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