How to adjust your side mirrors

[BHopkins]

This is correct. Most material on defensive driving mentions these mirror adjustments. As a rule you don't need to see the side of your vehicle when driving. You need to see what's in your blind spots, which is different.

When the side mirrors are adjusted properly, in addition to an object appearing in your side mirror as it goes off the side of the interior mirror, a passing vehicle should start to appear in your peripheral vision as it goes off the outside of the side mirror.

Exactly! Thank you!

When teaching my kids to drive, I taught them this same method. They asked why everyone else adjusts their mirror, so see the side of the car. I couldn't explain. All I know is that the method above gives me a level of driving safety that I am comfortable with.

The truck at the food pantry, which I volunteer at, is driven by three different people, me being one of them. The other two adjust the mirrors in the more common way. Every time I get in the truck, I have to adjust the mirrors, to the correct position.

You guys use your mirrors?

Hey, I got this one!

 

[Vercingetorix]

Car and Driver is totally incorrect. You need to be able to see your rear tires while backing. The blind spot thing is alleviated by not being lazy.

 

[Dave P.]

If Car and Driver is to be believed I’ve been doing it wrong for 45 years.

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15131074/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-avoid-blind-spots/

For those of you who don’t want to click the link the gist of the article is that you should have your side mirrors adjusted so they pick up where the coverage of your rear view ends, which is far out enough that the side of the vehicle isn’t visible. I’m going to adjust mine farther out today and see how I like it.

It will take a while to get used to not seeing some of your own car in the mirror as a reference point. Once you do get used to it though, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner! I see people driving on highways that literally have to turn their head around almost like an owl to see if it is safe to change lanes. With the mirrors properly positioned, a peripheral glance to the right or left windows, a quick look in the side and rearview mirrors and you have covered everything you need to see.

 

[Owen Lucas]

I'm curious, where do you find is the best position for the spot mirrors? Does the size of the spot mirror influence that choice?

On my car that does not have blind spot monitoring, I have the mirror placed closer to the door in the lower right corner of the glass.

This still allows me to see the rear corners of my vehicle, which is important when backing up into garages etc.

 

[supton]

The truck at the food pantry, which I volunteer at, is driven by three different people, me being one of them. The other two adjust the mirrors in the more common way. Every time I get in the truck, I have to adjust the mirrors, to the correct position.

Isn't the odds quite good that you'd have to adjust the seat and mirrors after driving anyone else's vehicle? Unless if you are all the same height somehow.

I see people driving on highways that literally have to turn their head around almost like an owl to see if it is safe to change lanes.

I thought it was required to turn one's head in driver's ed? With instructors (during the test) checking for this. Best I can find in google is that it's a "should" and not a law though.

 

[Dave P.]

Isn't the odds quite good that you'd have to adjust the seat and mirrors after driving anyone else's vehicle? Unless if you are all the same height somehow.


I thought it was required to turn one's head in driver's ed? With instructors (during the test) checking for this. Best I can find in google is that it's a "should" and not a law though.

It's been about 50 years since I was in my high school driver's ed class. What I remember most about our on the road portion is that our teacher was a known perv so out of the 3 students with him in the car, at least one always had to be a male. They would never put 3 girls in the car with him. Whether he was instructing us to turn around and check traffic, I can't recall.

 

[brages]

I agree with the Car and Driver method. It's more necessary on cars with very small side mirrors, like my old Volvo S40

 

[Number_35]

I find having the mirrors adjusted way out is particularly helpful on the highway.

Except for very short cars, I can watch a vehicle overtaking me disappear in my rearview mirror just as it begins to appear in the side mirror.

Yes, I still shoulder-check anyway.

The objection that this mirror setting is not appropriate for backing is legitimate; for that I adjust the side mirrors in and downward. Yay for power mirrors.

 

[AKhan87]

If Car and Driver is to be believed I’ve been doing it wrong for 45 years.

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15131074/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-avoid-blind-spots/

For those of you who don’t want to click the link the gist of the article is that you should have your side mirrors adjusted so they pick up where the coverage of your rear view ends, which is far out enough that the side of the vehicle isn’t visible. I’m going to adjust mine farther out today and see how I like it.

I have been doing this since 2016 when I read the NHTSA study. It is an absolute must.

For the side of the vehicle, I glue on the tiny "blind spot" mirrors and angle them inwards/down, and I use that to see the road and parking lines whenever needed.

My setup is significantly more accurate and better for my aggressive driving style, Blind Spot Monitoring systems are often way too sensitive and start alerting even when you have more than enough space, I think BSM systems are for the elderly or people who struggle with spatial awareness.

I taught my ex-wife how to drive using her side view mirrors properly to cover the blind spots, and she is a great driver.

 

[Sumboodie]

I don't have an interior rear view on anything. Or the ones that do, it's blocked.

 

[MCompact]

I've been using this method for over 20 years. It drives my wife nuts because she constantly thinks I'm haphazardly changing lanes.

So here's how you initially set up the mirrors. Sitting in the driver seat doors closed. Driver side mirror: Place your ear against the window and adjust the mirror until you can barely see the side of your car. Passenger side mirror: Lean to the right placing your head in line with the rear view mirror and adjust the passenger side mirror until you can barely see the side of your car.

Then fine tune to your liking.

Precisely. I tell people my car is equipped with three blind spot monitors- also known as mirrors. As an aside, here's a related FB post I made on the subject a few years ago:

Today's internet idjit:
On an Edmunds.com thread a car shopper asked whether to buy a Honda Accord or a Mazda 6. Mr. Idjit replied to buy whichever one has a blind spot monitor.
I suggested forgoing the Helen Keller driving aides and to instead learn how to properly adjust the mirrors- citing him to an article on point in Car and Driver Magazine.
Mr. Idjit countered with:
"Seriously, go with whichever car has the blind spot monitor ...you don't want to adjust mirrors in some funky pattern that detracts from overall safety. What if you leave your fuel door open by mistake-- you won't be able to see that if your mirrors are adjusted all the way to Abilene."

 

[Carmudgeon]

I'm a scofflaw and when available, install "Euro" convex mirrors on both sides.

I don't need to be reminded that "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear," so it's nice that they omit that as well.

 

[D60]

Car and Driver is totally incorrect. You need to be able to see your rear tires while backing. The blind spot thing is alleviated by not being lazy.

I'm curious, too. I use my side mirrors when backing. If you can see any "daylight" between your vehicle in your mirror and a given obstacle, you're guaranteed to clear.

Do those using the recommended technique adjust their mirrors for backing, or ?

 

[Astro14]

If Car and Driver is to be believed I’ve been doing it wrong for 45 years.

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15131074/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-avoid-blind-spots/

For those of you who don’t want to click the link the gist of the article is that you should have your side mirrors adjusted so they pick up where the coverage of your rear view ends, which is far out enough that the side of the vehicle isn’t visible. I’m going to adjust mine farther out today and see how I like it.

Got my license 45 years ago. That, adjusting to cover the blind spot, was how Dad taught me back then.

Never could understand why folks wanted to see the sides of their own car, when the threat is the other car.

 

[D60]

I'm also curious if you can see the sides of a trailer this way? I guess I should try it.

I deliberately put binders and ratchet mechanisms on the driver side so I can see excess chain or strap flapping about or dragging the road. Furthermore the additional weight of a binder or ratchet will exaggerate movement giving you a better idea if a strap has slacked.

I definitely want to see the sides of my car hauler. Honestly, I'm far less concerned about blind spots than watching for something dragging off the trailer, something working its way to the edge of the deck, or smoke from a blown tire or thrashed wheel bearing.

 

[Vercingetorix]

 

[Sumboodie]

It will take a while to get used to not seeing some of your own car in the mirror as a reference point. Once you do get used to it though, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner! I see people driving on highways that literally have to turn their head around almost like an owl to see if it is safe to change lanes. With the mirrors properly positioned, a peripheral glance to the right or left windows, a quick look in the side and rearview mirrors and you have covered everything you need to see.

How do you back up without seeing the sides of the truck?

 

[SR5]

I've never heard of this before. So I tried it today and it's great. When a car disappears from view of the central mirror, it appears in one of the side mirrors, when it disappears from my side mirrors, it appears in my peripheral vision. Rather than see the same car twice in two different mirrors, I saw two different cars, one from each mirror. I was driving in a busy multi lane highway today, and I was instantly much more aware of my surroundings.

I didn't have to reverse once today, or yesterday. But the next time I do, I can always adjust the mirrors for that one task, or use my reversing camera.

I'm a convert. I was blind (spotted) but now I see (my blind spots).

 

[Dave P.]

How do you back up without seeing the sides of the truck?

I drive a CR-V with a rear window so not a problem. I do on occasion drive a work van with no windows so then it is a bit of a challenge to backup, but with power mirrors, I just adjust them.

 

[Astro14]

I'm also curious if you can see the sides of a trailer this way? I guess I should try it.

I deliberately put binders and ratchet mechanisms on the driver side so I can see excess chain or strap flapping about or dragging the road. Furthermore the additional weight of a binder or ratchet will exaggerate movement giving you a better idea if a strap has slacked.

I definitely want to see the sides of my car hauler. Honestly, I'm far less concerned about blind spots than watching for something dragging off the trailer, something working its way to the edge of the deck, or smoke from a blown tire or thrashed wheel bearing.

Good point. When I tow, I do the same.

But the rest of the time, which is 100% of the time on my cars, they’re angled into the blind spots.