FEW THINGS IN A CAR are as vital as your rear-view mirrors. They let you see what is happening around your vehicle, and to identify other vehicles or potential hazards that aren’t in your direct line of sight.
Get into the habit of flicking your eyes from side to side to check your external mirrors and upwards to check your internal mirror every few seconds. It’s a habit that could save your life.
1. Ensure your mirrors are properly adjusted before you set off. Once you are seated comfortably in the driver’s seat, gently manoeuvre the rear-view mirror so you can see directly out of the centre of the rear windshield without having to move your head. You want to be able to quickly glance from the road ahead to the road behind without having to move or turn your head.
2. Next, adjust the external mirrors, starting with the driver’s side door mirror. Most new cars have electric adjustment, some still have a manual joystick, and older cars require you to physically reach out and move the mirror. Adjust the mirror so when you are sitting comfortably you can see the road behind you and, with a slight movement of your head, a sliver of the side of your car. In your normal seating position, you shouldn’t be able to see the side of your car.
3. Now adjust the passenger side door mirror. If it isn’t electrically adjustable, you may need someone to assist you, or you may have to move between the driver’s and passenger’s seats until it is correctly aligned. It is correctly positioned when you can flick your eyes to it and see the road behind and the merest hint of the left hand side of your car.
Once your mirrors are correctly adjusted, learn to use them properly.
1. When changing lanes, quickly check your mirror to see if any cars are behind you. As you signal your intention to move left or right, check the side mirror on the side you are moving towards to see if there is another vehicle or other obstacle on the roadway you are planning to occupy. Continue to glance between your rear-view and side mirrors as you complete the merge.
2. Whenever you are driving, constantly scan all of your mirrors every few seconds. If a vehicle surprises you by appearing beside you unexpectedly, it is a sure sign you haven’t been using your mirrors.
3. When parallel parking, your mirrors will make the task considerably easier. Use them to see how close you are to the kerb, to other vehicles or to check for obstacles.
4. When towing a trailer or caravan, your mirrors will help you ensure that the trailer or caravan wheels won’t hit the kerb on the inside of any turn. They also keep you informed of what other drivers and vehicles are doing around you. If the caravan or trailer is wide enough that your standard door mirrors can’t adjust for proper rear vision, fit supplementary mirrors (but remember to remove them when not towing – most states apply penalties for vehicles wearing supplementary towing mirrors when not actually towing).