I discovered something amazing

[fstime]

I love all the people in this thread saying how mirrors are useless and they always turn their head.

You are the ones who are waiting for an accident to happen. If your mirrors are properly adjusted, you only need a quick rotation of the neck that should last a split second simply to check your blind spot and that is it.

I see morons all the time who don't use their mirrors and turn their whole torso around to look out their windows and end up rear ending the car in front of them because they took their eyes off the road for too long.

Another cool trick is to adjust your rear view mirror to only have view of the right half of your rear window and the rest of the mirror tilted to view your D pillar window, eliminating any blind spots on the right hand side.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp
Fuck the so called proper adjustment, I set mine to where I feel the safest using them. I also find using those tiny mirrors that you can stick on to work very well.

Feeling safe > being safe

 

[Dirigible]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
This should be the first thing you do when you get behind the wheel of any car. Adjust the mirrors so that where things leave off in the rear view mirror come into view on the side view mirror. Adjusted properly you will still have a bit of a blind spot but a quick glance to the side will catch anything in your blind spot in your peripheral vision.

You should NOT be able to see the side of your car in your side view mirrors. Nor should you be turning your head and body to look behind you when changing lanes. You only need to turn your head about 45 degrees from straight ahead to see if there is a car alongside you.

I can't believe how many people don't know this. It should be common knowledge really.

Very true. It shocks me how many people get into my car and comment on my "weird" mirror setup. Very few of them seem to grasp the concept.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp
Fuck the so called proper adjustment, I set mine to where I feel the safest using them. I also find using those tiny mirrors that you can stick on to work very well.

Feeling safe > being safe

If I run into someone cause of my mirrors being wrong I will gladly change them. Not paying attention while driving is far less safe.

 

[natto fire]

with your username, this is kind of funny...

 

[rezinn]

It's amazing that people can't figure this out on their own.

 

[DayLaPaul]

No shit? My side mirrors are supposed to help me get a better view of what's on my sides?

 

[IEC]

In ten years, it'll all be a camera system and you won't have to guess.

 

[xanis]

Uh... mirror adjustment was the first thing I learned when I started driving at 16. I thought it was common knowledge.

 

[Finalnight]

Originally posted by: Xanis
Uh... mirror adjustment was the first thing I learned when I started driving at 16. I thought it was common knowledge.

Same here. Plus, I use my head to check. I have had many an idiot not check and force me to slam on the brakes as they drift into my lane where I am. I typically keep my mirrors covering at least part of the side of my vehicle so I can see how close I am to another car when parking or to the garage wall, etc. Very handy in urban environments.

 

[will889]

Originally posted by: Saga
I sort of figured this was the common sense crap that DMV book was supposed to teach you at age 14!

Neat link imo.

l0l :laugh:

 

[mozirry]

didn't realize this lol, I'm a head turner anyway.

 

[Duddy]

Originally posted by: FDF12389

Originally posted by: zerocool84
Relying on mirrors instead of turning your head is just stupid. It's just asking for crashes. Mirrors can't catch everything.

Agreed

This.

 

[l0cke]

I almost never use my mirrors, except for the rear-view. But my next car will probably have a 5-point harness as a seatbelt, so I should get used to not turning so much. Thanks for the link

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Spartan Niner
In ten years, it'll all be a camera system and you won't have to guess.

The only way you won't have to guess is if you take the dumbass behind the wheel out of the equation...ie, you.

BTW-Some of the most exotic cars made have horrible mirrors, poor rear visibility and horrendous blind-spots. I don't know how you exotic lovers would ever manage if you ever actually got behind the wheel of one.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: l0cke
I almost never use my mirrors, except for the rear-view. But my next car will probably have a 5-point harness as a seatbelt, so I should get used to not turning so much. Thanks for the link

Is your next car going to have an infant seat for you? Because that's the only way you should be allowed near a car with a belt attaching you to it at 5 points.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Xanis
Uh... mirror adjustment was the first thing I learned when I started driving at 16. I thought it was common knowledge.

Yeah, most people learn it when they start driving. But most people learn to do it wrong. Most people adjust the mirror so they can see their car, and that is wrong.

 

[Throwmeabone]

Originally posted by: Finalnight

Originally posted by: Xanis
Uh... mirror adjustment was the first thing I learned when I started driving at 16. I thought it was common knowledge.

Same here. Plus, I use my head to check. I have had many an idiot not check and force me to slam on the brakes as they drift into my lane where I am. I typically keep my mirrors covering at least part of the side of my vehicle so I can see how close I am to another car when parking or to the garage wall, etc. Very handy in urban environments.

You agree that mirror adjustment is common knowledge and then admit that you're doing it wrong..

Xanis: it's not common knowledge. In any person's car I have ever driven, the mirrors were adjusted so that a good portion of the car is still visible. I realized on my own that that was useless and adjusted them so I couldn't see the car from the normal driving position, but this takes it even farther than that.

 

[Cattlegod]

Learned this a couple years ago on my tier 2 driving test. There is no such thing as a blind spot if you have your mirrors properly adjusted.

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: Duddy

Originally posted by: FDF12389

Originally posted by: zerocool84
Relying on mirrors instead of turning your head is just stupid. It's just asking for crashes. Mirrors can't catch everything.

Agreed

This.

Then why have side mirrors if you're not going to use them?

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Indolent

Originally posted by: Duddy

Originally posted by: FDF12389

Originally posted by: zerocool84
Relying on mirrors instead of turning your head is just stupid. It's just asking for crashes. Mirrors can't catch everything.

Agreed

This.

Then why have side mirrors if you're not going to use them?

I still use them to a certain degree and have them adjusted properly like in the article but still turn my head to make sure there is no one there cus they are still blind spots the mirrors can't get.

 

[LTC8K6]

When I am on an on ramp, I will motor my driver's side mirror way out so that I can see the oncoming traffic better before I get to the merge. It works surprisingly well, and the memory puts it right back where it was.

Some people look at me strangely though when they see me do this.

 

[SampSon]

"turning your mirrors out" is blindingly obvious common sense.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
Learned this a couple years ago on my tier 2 driving test. There is no such thing as a blind spot if you have your mirrors properly adjusted.

Assuming your mirrors can move that far. Mine are adjusted by motor, and their range of mobility is fairly limited.


But just learning that a car's side-view mirrors can be adjusted? Wow.

Of course, I like to fiddle with every control available in a car, and nearly memorize them right away.

 

[SampSon]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
Learned this a couple years ago on my tier 2 driving test. There is no such thing as a blind spot if you have your mirrors properly adjusted.

Assuming your mirrors can move that far. Mine are adjusted by motor, and their range of mobility is fairly limited.

You can usually push the mirror at an angle beyond what the motor allows.
In my experience this doesn't do any major damage to the motor.