The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) published a paper in 1995 suggesting how outside mirrors could be adjusted to eliminate blind spots. This article expands on that paper.
I switched a few months ago. It took a while to get used to it, but I feel like I have a better picture of what’s happening around me.
Have you tried this? Did you switch back?
Or you could leave the mirrors as they should be, and just turn your head to check your blind spots?
They are sideview mirrors. Most people do not have them where they should be and instead have three mirrors pointing to the rear, showing basically the same thing. Why turn your head away from the front when a quick look to the mirror is safer?
You don’t need to turn your head with the mirrors pointing “to the rear”. Just lean forward about 8-12 inches to clear your blind spot.
Then you don’t have to set your mirrors so wide that a pedestrian in a grocery store parking lot can hide from them simply by walking behind your car.
The arrangement you are advocating should only be used on the highway, not in the city and never when backing.
Incorrect. It is safer to have the mirrors cover a wider range. Just adjust your mirrors correctly to not triple what they show.
Pointing all mirrors back produces the blind spot we have been discussing this whole time and makes it more unsafe because things can be in that blind spot. A pedestrian behind your car would be seen by the rear view mirror.
The arrangement you are advocating for is incorrect and should never be used due to it solely limiting view and increasing danger.
Listen to the engineers.
A pedestrian behind your car would be seen by the rear view mirror.
That’s incorrect.
If you are parked in a typical parking spot with the mirrors arranged like this, pedestrians standing on the end of the lines marking that space are not visible in either the rear view or the side mirrors. This is the most dangerous place to miss a pedestrian, as they will be hit as soon as you start moving.
This is the case in every vehicle I have tested this in, with the exception of a convertible that didn’t have C-pillars obstructing the rear view.
This arrangement is not suitable for city driving, specifically because it creates a different blind spot: A blind spot that is much more dangerous for pedestrians, and cannot be overcome by simply leaning forward slightly. A blind spot up close to the rear of the vehicle, where neither the driver nor the pedestrian has time to react to the other’s presence.
This arrangement is only suitable for highway driving, and then only in vehicles with unobstructed rear views. (Trucks, vans, vehicles with 3+ rows of seating should never use this)
Should never be a replacement for turning your head.
If you can’t turn your head and you can’t afford a BMW, please talk to your physio.
This article won’t win over any converts with that snark at the end of it.
“Have fun filling out those accident reports”
What a stupid thing to write. I’ve been driving for 20+ years and I’ve never been in an accident. So why write that stupidity of a sentence?
It’s like saying to a 30+ year old reader: “Here’s a better way to tie your shoes. Oh, you won’t do that? Have fun falling down and breaking your nose every year!”
Rejected. This arrangement is suitable only for highway driving. It is extraordinarily dangerous for city driving, especially in backing.
This puts very large blind spots up close to the car. Spots large enough to hide a pedestrian as you back out of a parking space.
The “door handles” alignment provides better view when backing. Clearing blind spots for lane changes is easily accomplished by leaning forward, which widens the angle of reflection.
Looking over the shoulders is not desirable: It takes your eyes too far away from your direction of travel. Leaning forward, your direction of travel is still in your peripheral vision.
Convex “wedge” mirrors are an excellent addition.
Do people really learn to drive and not know how to correctly position their side mirrors? wtf? How?
Yes. Me. I was taught that the mirrors were supposed to be aligned with the sides of the car. You’re supposed to look over your shoulder to change lanes and not rely on the mirrors.
You can have your mirrors adjusted properly while still looking over your shoulder. I posted above that I was taught how to properly adjust my mirrors I I’ve never had blind spots, but I still always look over my shoulders - including opening my door as the Dutch do (open the driver door with your right hand, not the left, because this forces you to reach across yourself and thus turn to see what might be coming towards you and you might open your door into)
ITT: a whole bunch of people more worried about scratching or bumping their car in a parking lot than possibly killing themselves or others on a highway with an unsafe lane change.
Adjust your mirrors so cars approaching from behind in the lane to either side start entering your side mirrors as they start leaving your rearview mirror. There should be a point where you can see one half of a car in the side mirror and the other half in the center mirror at the same time. You should not be able to see your own car. You might not be able to dial this in while parked and might have to adjust on the road, but it’s absolutely worth it.
If you need to see the lines while parking and your mirrors don’t auto-move in reverse, explore methods that don’t rely on mirrors. I used to park on a long, squiggly driveway. I’d crack the driver door open to see where the edge was while I was reversing, and I could follow it precisely at speed. If your car allows you to crack the door open without shifting into park, give that a shot (you’re wearing your seatbelt, right? Don’t fall out and run yourself over.). Otherwise you could try rolling down a window and peeking out that way.
lol.
idgaf how anyone has their mirror adjusted, turn your head and look with your eyes before changing lanes, full stop.
If you’re in a vehicle that blocks those direct site lines, then you should have multiple side mirrors with blind spot coverage already.
turn your head and look with your eyes before changing lanes, full stop.
I’d rather not take my eyes so fully off of what’s happening in front of me at speed, that’s why I have my mirrors set up so I can see the lanes next to me: to use my eyes without having to contort my body
If you can’t take your eyes off the road long enough to turn your head and check your blind spots, then you are probably not in a spot safe enough to allow a lane change anyway 🤷♂️
