On the way to commute home this evening, I almost hit a pickup truck or the pickup truck almost hit me when I change to my left lane. That street has two lanes on each direction with a center turning lane. Fortunately that vehicle is taller and saw my moving direction and steer away to the center turning lane. Of course I got a big horn which I deserved. I know I should turn my head to double check instead of just depend on the side mirror. I don't know, I am kind of lazy to turn my head after a long day at work. Anyway, anyone know a better way to solve this blind spot issue of side mirrors?

 

This is what I've learned from a performance driving school and it's the best lesson of the day. The correct way to set your side mirrors is set them out, so don't see the side of your own car unless you lean back. This proven method allows you to see your blind spot quickly without turning your head, because the mirrors are already looking at the blind spot.

The reason for this particular setup is (the way it was explained to the students) that you will never hit your own car from the side, so why look at your own car?

 

That's a good one. I think I read it somewhere. I will try it tomorrow. But how far should I adjust it out? How do I know it is out far enough?

 

Sitting in the normal driving position, adjust the mirrors out until you don't see the side of your car anymore. Then just move it out a little more. If you lean back slightly with this setting, you should barely see the side of your car.

 

Thanks! Just try to adjust it to the position as you described, I think I should know the difference when I drive tomorrow morning. Thanks again.

BTW, could you post some of your performance driving school learning experience?

 

I learned about this way of setting mirrors from a newspaper column of those crazy "Car Talk" guys (Click and Clack), just before getting my TSX two weeks ago. It's a good thing, too, since the TSX rear visibility is much less than my previous car.

There's a short picture article with better detail about how to set up the mirror views on the Car Talk web site : cartalk.cars.com/features/mirrors/ . This will show you exactly how to set things up.

I'm still getting used to this "new way of seeing," but it works!

(I second the request for more info on performance driving school ... but I'd suggest starting a separate thread for that.)

 

This topic came up on another discussion board I frequent. Here's the thread.

They linked to an interesting graphic from smart motorist about proper mirror adjustment:

 

i find my self always placing my head closer to the side mirror when I do any turning... let's me see that blind spot. i don't know how many times i've thought i was clear only to catch myself by doing the above.

 

just lean forward and look in the mirror again.

 

Moving your eyes is much quicker than shifting the body, especially when you are in an emergency situation needing to find an "out" path quickly while avoiding frontal collision. Then again, use whatever method that works best for you.

 

A friend of mine showed me the mirror technique that you all are discussing and I think it works well. I still turn my head to check lanes if I don't see anything in the mirrors, but having the mirrors arranged as mentioned keeps me from having to do that when someone is 'right there.'

 

They way I have it adjusted is just like those in the "Correct" picture posted above.

I get my rearview mirror set. Then as I'm driving down the road, just before a car a lane beside and behind me passes out of view, that's where I set the side mirrors. So JUST as it's going out of view, I can see the car in BOTH the side and rearview.

 

Thank you everyone for your contribution. I wonder whether the driving school now teaches the new driver the correct way to set the mirrors. I hope so!

I feel a little bit strange at first to set it that way, because those cars pass you and stay in the side mirror slightly longer. But I think this is the right way and I can see car move from rear view mirror to my side view mirror now with very little overlap. Still, I think even the correct way has minimum blind spot. Like a person stand there you might not be able to spot him/her. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Wishes everyone here set theirs mirrors the right way!

 

Mirrors have been shrinking probably to decrease air resistance and increase fuel economy.

Euro mirrors have a wide angle on the outer 1/3 or 1/4 of the mirror. For unclear reasons our DOT doesn't allow them, so cars are delivered with flat glass mirrors on the driver's side in the US.

I have the Euro kind of mirror on the driver's side of my Volvo, I just ordered the glass from my Volvo dealer, I had the p.n. from the Volvo board, told the parts guy to try ordering it and it just showed up, much to his amazement.



Note the split and the optical distortion.

So does anyone know of a source for Euro-Accord parts?

 

if the mirrors are adjusted properly, there is no blind spot and therefore no need to look over your shoulder when changing lanes

 

Of course, legally (in CA where I live, anyway), you're always supposed to look over your shoulder when you change lanes.

 

too bad, that creates a greater danger