Adjusting Side View Mirrors: Most people have their side view mirrors adjusted incorrectly. the general rule has been that you should be able to see the side of your car in the mirror.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Most people have their side view mirrors adjusted incorrectly. the general rule has been that you should be able to see the side of your car in the mirror. Why?

Instead, adjust both mirrors farther out, and you will avoid blind spots almost completely. Like the author of the following article, I learned this from Car Talk a few years ago.

http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/americans-are-not-adjusting-their-car-mirrors-properly.html/

NeilL Loc: British-born Canadian

jerryc41 wrote:

Most people have their side view mirrors adjusted incorrectly. the general rule has been that you should be able to see the side of your car in the mirror. Why?

Instead, adjust both mirrors farther out, and you will avoid blind spots almost completely. Like the author of the following article, I learned this from Car Talk a few years ago.

http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/americans-are-not-adjusting-their-car-mirrors-properly.html/

Yes. The inside rearview mirror covers that part if your side mirrors show the sides of your car, creating a large blind-spot.

bw79st Loc: New York City

jerryc41 wrote:

Most people have their side view mirrors adjusted incorrectly. the general rule has been that you should be able to see the side of your car in the mirror. Why?

Instead, adjust both mirrors farther out, and you will avoid blind spots almost completely. Like the author of the following article, I learned this from Car Talk a few years ago.

http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/americans-are-not-adjusting-their-car-mirrors-properly.html/

His system for setting up the mirrors is very good. I don't own a car anymore but do occasionally rent. That means I have to set up the mirrors almost every time I get into a driver's seat.

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

jerryc41 wrote:

Most people have their side view mirrors adjusted incorrectly. the general rule has been that you should be able to see the side of your car in the mirror. Why?

Instead, adjust both mirrors farther out, and you will avoid blind spots almost completely. Like the author of the following article, I learned this from Car Talk a few years ago.

http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/americans-are-not-adjusting-their-car-mirrors-properly.html/

I miss Car Talk. I was doing a job for an auto mechanic and listening to Car Talk. He said "why don't they just answer the question?" I said that it would just be wrong anyway. He just didn't get it. :lol:

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

jerryc41 wrote:

Most people have their side view mirrors adjusted incorrectly. the general rule has been that you should be able to see the side of your car in the mirror. Why?

Instead, adjust both mirrors farther out, and you will avoid blind spots almost completely. Like the author of the following article, I learned this from Car Talk a few years ago.

http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/americans-are-not-adjusting-their-car-mirrors-properly.html/

I took a driver safety class for a discount on my insurance about 5 years ago. The instructor explained this new side view mirror theory. His method of setting it up was the "recommended" method, but it seemed a bit extreme. It involved leaning over to the center of the car for the right-side mirror and then setting it so you can then see the road and the right side the car. Almost as extreme for the left side.
Putting the side of the car in the mirror was used as a "reference point" so you can compare vehicles on the side of you in relation to your car.
2 things.
First, I don't follow his method but I do set the mirrors so I can see the lanes on either side of my car completely. More than once I've almost had a collision with a car in the left lane before I changed.
Second, I'm not taking another driver safety class again because you have to sit in the classroom for 6 hours to save 10% only on the Liability insurance portion of your policy. Not worth it.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Sorry. Duplicate post.

houdel Loc: Chase, Michigan USA

jerryc41 wrote:

The general rule has been that you should be able to see the side of your car in the mirror. Why?

I never understood that. What good does it do to be able to see the side of your car? I always adjust my outside rear view mirrors so I can see the lane of traffic on either side of me. Much more useful - and safer!

One Jughead Loc: Greene County, OH

I adjust my mirrors so that the ones on each side cover the area where the inside mirror ends so I don't have any blind spots. I don't do the lean right and left, just sit normally.
Adjust the inside mirror and then adjust the left and right ones to expand the rear view and not have any blind spots.

bodacious Loc: Oregon

jerryc41 wrote:

Most people have their side view mirrors adjusted incorrectly. the general rule has been that you should be able to see the side of your car in the mirror. Why?

Instead, adjust both mirrors farther out, and you will avoid blind spots almost completely. Like the author of the following article, I learned this from Car Talk a few years ago.

http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/americans-are-not-adjusting-their-car-mirrors-properly.html/

Well Jerry I guess I have to purchase one of those new fangled cars as this side view mirror thing sounds pretty good. :lol: :lol: :lol:

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

jerryc41 wrote:

Most people have their side view mirrors adjusted incorrectly. the general rule has been that you should be able to see the side of your car in the mirror. Why?

Instead, adjust both mirrors farther out, and you will avoid blind spots almost completely. Like the author of the following article, I learned this from Car Talk a few years ago.

http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/americans-are-not-adjusting-their-car-mirrors-properly.html/

The only problem is without a view of the side of your car or truck in the mirror you have to perspective on where other vehicles actually are in relation to yours.

canarywood1 Loc: Sarasota,Florida

Just bought a new car, and they now have blind spot monitors built in, picture of a vehicle lights up in the mirror to warn you.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

jimmya wrote:

The only problem is without a view of the side of your car or truck in the mirror you have to perspective on where other vehicles actually are in relation to yours.

You don't need that. You need to see the adjacent lane. All you need to know is that if you see a vehicle in your mirror, do not change lanes.

ArnieA Loc: BC,Canada

What about looking over your shoulder like you're supposed to do before a lane change???

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

ArnieA wrote:

What about looking over your shoulder like you're supposed to do before a lane change???

You are NOT supposed to do that and if your mirrors are adjusted properly you will not have to.

ArnieA Loc: BC,Canada

Not the way I was taught way back in drivers ed.NO mirror will eliminate blind spots. If you can't see the side of your car you have NO idea where it is looking unless you park in exactly the same spot each day and have known reference points to check the mirrors.

I see lots of drivers change lanes without looking. And that is STUPID!

If you don't look over your shoulder you are an accident waiting to happen.