Outside mirrors/driving knowledge/blind-spot mirrors

[idreamofmazda]

I have a question that has been on my mind for years, concerning the outside mirrors on cars. I took high school drivers education; I think back in 1986, it was a mere 6 hours of driving, and 12 hours of classroom lecture ($75 was the cost if you can believe it). One thing that I just don’t understand about what I was taught way back then, was not to use the outside mirrors. I was told to do a “shoulder check� instead of using the mirrors. The mirrors are put there for a reason; you can’t get a used car certified without the mirrors, so they must be necessary.

After I earned my license, I learned to use the mirrors on my own, and adjusting in a parking (I think I read that in the driver’s handbook) lot wasn’t realistic.

What are students being taught these days, with regard to use of the mirrors? I do check my blind spots, never had an accident, but don’t turn my head right around, like some people do. I get freaked out driving behind someone, and then the driver’s head his turns 180 degrees like on the Exorcist. I don’t feel that this is the safest practice, as you travel a fare distance in a few seconds, essentially blind in the forward direction.

I’ve had my GX sedan for almost 4 months now, and I was never satisfied with the view through the drivers-side mirror, maybe it’s just me, but could not get it set to see properly, one and two lanes over. I was always afraid someone two lanes over, making a lane change at the same time as me, and crash! I had good view from my last car, so maybe I am just spoiled.

I went to Canadian Tire a few months ago, and bought a 3-inch blind-spot mirror, and attached it to the upper left side of the drivers-side mirror. It took a few weeks to get use to it, but it’s a lifesaver for me, as I am more confident in making lane changes, and don’t need to break my neck.

So with regard to proper use of the mirrors, what is latest advising from the driving instructors?

Thanks so much.

[majic]

not from a driving instructor but from experience.. if you wnat to check your blind spot w/o breaking your neck.. lean forward a bit.. you will maintain (at least) peripheral vision on the road in front of you so that you can see brake lights but at the same tiem you increase your view in the side mirrors.

also.. frequently checking all mirrors and knowing your position on the road as well as others (speed and proximity) is a good thing to do - enables you to be aware of the environment and anticipate things. you become more of an active (offensive?) driver as opposed to a reactive one..

EDIT: especially rearview mirror.. ie. say you\'re in the middle lane.. and are about to pass on the left the guy who\'s dragging at 80kph.. you see in your RVM that there is a set of headlights approaching pretty quickly (relatively) @ 120km/h in the left lane, once that car passes you, you can almost w/o a shoulder check go into the left lane (assuming you have paid attention to what was going on behind you)

the only way someone would still be in your blind spot is.. if they were following that guy pretty quickly and then slowed down to 80kph.. or if someone changed lanes from middle to left or from right through middle to left.. it\'s just all about knowing who\'s around and where..

just keep a safe distance from the person in front of you so that you can carry out a shoulder check..

[firstmazda]

The following information I received from the thread I used to follow on Edmunds.com
(from what I hear is one of the leading auto information resources)

Anyways, I tried what it says and I find IT REALLY WORKS. It \'virtually\' eliminates your blind spots, I barely need to glace past my shoulder anymore. I still look at my blind spots, don\'t get me wrong, but I don\'t need to turn my neck as much.

Try it, it REALLY takes getting used to, maybe a couple weeks but now I don\'t even notice how awkward it used to feel.
(quote)
\"How to properly adjust your side-view mirrors\"

Speaking of side and rear view mirrors...about 99% of US drivers set them incorrectly. I read the following advice in one of the half dozen car magazines I get, and my driving has not been the same since. (I have given this advice out many times, and not many people take it. After about 10 minutes, they revert back to the old incorrect way, just because they are used to it. Even I was tempted...it took me 2 solid weeks to get used to it, but I have been a much safer driver since then.)


Basically, everyone keeps their side view mirrors canted too closely to the side of the vehicle. In essence, they use them as \"additional\" rear view mirrors.


According to the publication I read, when adjusting your \"LEFT\" side view mirror, place the side of your head against the left side window, and adjust the mirror out until you can just barely see the side sheet metal of your vehicle.


For the \"RIGHT\" side view mirror, place your head directly in the center of the vehicle, and then adjust the mirror out until you can barely see the side sheet metal of your vehicle.


This may require some minute adjustments depending on the vehicle length, but the purpose of this exercise is to prevent the age old very dangerous head turn when changing lanes. (It never made sense to me to actually take my eyes off the road for any reason.)


Instead, for left-hand changes, just check your rear-view mirror then your left-side-view mirror. If there are any vehicles in the left lane next to you, then they should be in one or both of your mirrors, or else they are literally right next to you, and plainly visible without turning your head.


The same should be true for right-hand lane changes.


This advice literally changed my driving life. Once I got used to my mirrors being in the \"correct\" position, I have not had the \"accidental\" cutting off of someone and close calls that I had before. Or the near misses where I almost rear-ended someone because they slammed on their brakes while I had my head cranked around in order to change lanes.


No matter what vehicle you drive, or how small or large the mirrors, you should be able to set it like this.


Test it out...set the mirrors like I have instructed, then let someone pass you on a multi-lane highway. You should see the car in your rear-view mirror, and then it should pass from rear-view mirror into your side-view mirror and then you should be able to look out of the corner of your eye and see the vehicle beside you.


PLEASE try this...and stick with it. Even if I make a single safer driver I will be happy. It is hard though, like I said only 1 out of 3 people I tell this too actually stick with it. But the ones that do have reported that their driving safety has improved too...


Maybe all you Edmunds subscribers already knew this...if so, sorry.
(end quote)

What he says is true, It\'s pretty neat, For example, if someone is passing me on the left,
I\'ll see him first in the rear view mirror. By the time his rear bumper is about to dissapear, i\'ll see his headlights in the side view mirror. And when his rear passes that,
the front of the car will be right at my shoulder, in my periferal view.

Try it, it\'s worked for me!

Ray

[bluntman]

This is the method that I use to adjust my rear view mirrors and it works flawlessly. Now if only I can parallel park! :sarc

[civiclad]

Thanks, this was really helpful!

[wtom]

Originally posted by firstmazda

According to the publication I read, when adjusting your \"LEFT\" side view mirror, place the side of your head against the left side window, and adjust the mirror out until you can just barely see the side sheet metal of your vehicle.


For the \"RIGHT\" side view mirror, place your head directly in the center of the vehicle, and then adjust the mirror out until you can barely see the side sheet metal of your vehicle.



I tried this today while out to run some errands during lunch, WHOA it is very different feeling! Everything felt okay EXCEPT when I tried to reverse park (which I do A LOT)... it was very weird because I use to always rely on my side mirrors to straighten my car between the lines... now I cannot see the lines because the side mirrors reflect further out than the lines are... i\'ve kept my mirrors as stated above, however, just gotta find a new method (to get use to) to check when reversing...

Also still found myself turning my head 30 or so degrees to check my blindspot... force of habit. :)

[firstmazda]

Originally posted by wtom
I tried this today while out to run some errands during lunch, WHOA it is very different feeling!

my girlfriend hated it at first, she said it looks like the cars are going to hit you!
but I think she\'s starting to get used to it now,
she dosen\'t change the mirrors anymore everytime she uses the car :p




I use to always rely on my side mirrors to straighten my car between the lines... now I cannot see the lines ...

just gotta find a new method (to get use to) to check when reversing...


I had the same problem.
Try adjusting the mirrors just a smidge down, that helped for me,



Also still found myself turning my head 30 or so degrees to check my blindspot... force of habit. :)

I TOLD YOU IT TAKES GETTING USED TO!! haha


Ray

[wtom]

Originally posted by firstmazda

I TOLD YOU IT TAKES GETTING USED TO!! haha



Yeah no kidding... gotta build up the confidence to trust in the mirrors at those extreme angles pointing AWAY from yourself... :)