Why must a commercial driver be aware of the vehicle's blind spots?

A commercial driver must be aware of the vehicle's blind spots to ensure that surrounding vehicles are safe and to avoid collisions. Blind spots are areas around the vehicle that are not visible through mirrors, meaning that other vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians may be present in these areas without the driver’s knowledge. By understanding where these blind spots are, a driver can take necessary precautions such as checking mirrors, turning their head to look, and ensuring safe maneuvering, especially during lane changes, turns, or reversing. This awareness is crucial for the safety of all road users, particularly in commercial driving, where larger vehicles have more significant blind spots and the potential for accidents can be much higher.

Ensuring safety is the primary focus; the other options do not pertain to the critical safety aspect of blind spot awareness that is essential for commercial drivers. Knowledge of blind spots is relevant to all types of vehicles, making the understanding of these areas universal for both commercial and personal drivers.