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I came across this webpage that I found very interesting.


You've been driving for many years. You know how to adjust your mirrors. Who do I take you for, some idiot?

Yes.

Ok, so you may not be an idiot, but chances are, you don't have your side mirrors adjusted properly.

http://www.linquist.net/motorsports/tech/mirrors/

haha I picked up the same tip from an insurance company since then I never really needed to shoulder check and changing lanes has been much easier!

believe it or not, i actually did learn that someplace.......and have used it ever since.

It makes so much sense, and yet I've been driving around with my mirrors all wrong. I'm going to have to try this today.

I tried it today, and it was like putting on glasses or something. The totaly opened up my field of vision. I was supprised.

At first it felt very awkward.

I dont have my mirrors adjusted out that far. I keep mine adjusted to where I can just barely see the side of the car. Just a sliver. What this does is let me move my head side to side just a very small amont to see a more outer angle or the other way to see closer into the car.

I still shoulder check some. It gives me a better feel for what a drivers intent might be,, say if we are thinking of merging into the same lane and there not going to use a signal. Its hard for me to read intent or body movements thru a mirror. Shoulder check also makes me comfy around motorcycles. As a rider I know they can bust a move sooo much faster than a car it isnt funny. And they hide well to boot.

Useing mirrors to there full extent is tricky. If youve ever pulled a trailer, driven a boxed truck or semi you learn alsorts of things about mirrors as there your tools. I feel alot of folks are uneasy about the mirrors and therfor never really learn how to use them, or trust thereselves with them.

Thanks for sharing. I'm going out to adjust my mirrors now!

http://www.canadiandirect.com/Auto/Safe_Driving_Tips/Blind_Spots.aspx

where i got it from, hhehee and yes i never went back! i couldnt believe how stupid my mirrors were setup until i read this article.

and i couldn't believe it how many people want to setup their mirrors so they can see the side of your car... WHY!!!!????? MIRRORS ARE THERE FOR A REASON USE THEM!

gone are the days where we had ****ty mirrors. i don't do a full shoulder check but at least i look right of my window for just in case~~

if i'm not totally sure and there is no car iin FRONT of me then yes i'll shoulder, but if there is i ain't going to take a risk and shoulder check if potenially the car in front of me is going to brake....

in the end, test your new setup, i did SO MANY times (BIKES AND CARS) and it convinced me not to shoulder check ever again unless i was paranoid at one moment.

but most of the time this setup works very well.

Far too many drivers do not use their side mirrors enough when changing lanes, instead relying on turning their heads and looking over their shoulder. The problem is as they are not set or adjusted properly - resulting in blind spots - the driver does not trust using the side mirrors. But, once they are adjusted properly, using them and trusting them to give you the information you require will become a habit.

With the mirrors adjusted properly, a shoulder check to change lanes becomes more of a "shoulder peek", meaning you don't have to turn your head so far. That means your peripheral vision will still provide a view in front of you - no "blind spot" in front of you either, meaning less chance of rear-ending a vehicle that has suddenly stopped.

As a side benefit, with the side mirrors tilted out farther, you will no longer have to worry about the bright lights of a vehicle behind you glaring in your eyes. It may take a little while to feel comfortable with not being able to see the side of your own car in the side mirrors (if you really need to see it every now and then, just tilt your head a little!).

Also, it may take a little time to stop relying on the side mirrors for looking to the rear. But once you get used to it, you'll love it. You'll feel much more confident and comfortable in traffic.

A lot of people don't know how to back with mirrors, either.
Another thing that anyone going for a CDL has to learn, that
should also be required for any driver since you never know when
you'll be in a vehicle that has no rear window.
.
There are a lot of things in the CDL manual that should be brought
into the set of requirements for any vehicle license...
.
_H*

I made the change yesterday afternoon and I love it! It's a little odd not having three mirrors pointed in the same direction, but it really does help on the highway. My driver's-side mirrors literally track a vehicle in the adjacent lane right up until it appears next to me. Thing is, I have no idea if the passenger-side mirrors are adjusted right because I've been locked in to the right lane the entire time!

I don't have a passenger side mirror.:(

I don't have a passenger side mirror.:(

Same with my 1988 CRX HF - did the Governmment require passenger side mirrors?

Time for you guys to get those bolt-ons that people use when they tow a trailer ;)

My 1988 Civic didn't come with a passenger mirror either, but I bought an aftermarket one that looked just like factory stock and bolted it in for $50 in about 10 minutes. Very worthwhile addition for anyone that owns one of the cars of that era.