How to Properly Position & Use Car Mirrors

Mirrors play an understated yet crucial role in driving safety. According to numerous driving safety resources, improper positioning and usage of car mirrors contribute significantly to accidents during merging and lane changes. Ensuring that mirrors are correctly set up can greatly enhance a driver's awareness of their surroundings and eliminate potentially dangerous blind spots.

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Correctly positioned mirrors can prevent large blind spots where, for instance, a truck could be concealed. Learning to properly position and use your car's mirrors can help you eliminate these blind spots altogether.

Are your mirrors adjusted correctly?

How to Position Vehicle Mirrors to Eliminate Blind Spots

Many drivers assume they should see the side of their car in their side mirrors. However, it is more beneficial to see the lane next to you instead. Ideally, your side-view mirrors should not show the side of your vehicle while you're driving.

Following the steps below will help eliminate most, if not all, blind spots around your vehicle. However, it's wise to check for any remaining blind spots after adjusting:

DRIVING SAFETY: Although adjusting your mirrors enhances visibility, it should not replace the practice of checking over your shoulder for nearby traffic. Always look over your shoulder when merging, changing lanes, or executing any lateral movements.

1. Adjust Your Seat

Before making adjustments to your mirrors, ensure you're seated in a comfortable, driving position. If you're unsure how to adjust your seat, consult your owner's manual for guidance on the seat adjusters.

Adjust the seat forwards and backwards, as well as up and down if the option exists. Your feet should comfortably reach the gas, brake, and clutch pedals if necessary.

Once your seat is adjusted, buckle your seatbelt before positioning the mirrors. This step guarantees that your positioning reflects your actual driving position.

DRIVING SAFETY: Always ensure your seatbelt is fastened while driving.

2. Adjust the Rearview Mirror

Every time you enter the vehicle or make adjustments to your seat, be sure to check the rearview mirror's position. Vehicle vibrations can shift the mirror slightly, necessitating re-adjustments once you start driving.

DRIVING SAFETY: Make adjustments to the rearview mirror only when stationary. It’s essential to check this mirror each time you enter the driver's seat.

When establishing the optimal position for this mirror, aim to see as much of the back window as possible without moving your head. Adjust the rearview mirror in small increments until you achieve clarity.

For taller drivers (over 6 feet): You might try flipping the mirror upside down; this can provide a few extra inches to the mirror’s bottom edge, aiding in eliminating significant blind spots.

Your Rearview Mirror Should Display:

• The road directly behind you.
• The horizon line.
• A little space above the horizon line.
• As much of the rear window as possible.

DRIVING SAFETY: Check your rearview mirror every 5-8 seconds to stay informed about who is passing you, as well as any cars that are dangerously close behind.

3. Adjust Side-View Mirrors

Rather than seeing the side of your car, your side mirrors should adequately show the lanes adjacent to you. Adjust the mirrors using the following process:

Driver’s Side View:

To position the driver's side mirror, lean your head towards the driver’s side window until it touches the glass. Adjust the mirror until you can just glimpse the back corner of your car.

Passenger’s Side View:

Repeat this process for the passenger's side mirror, leaning towards the passenger window and adjusting until you can just see the back corner of the car.

Final Adjustments:

After the initial adjustments, return to your standard driving position and make any minor necessary changes. Set your mirrors so that when a passing vehicle disappears from your rearview mirror, it appears in your side-view mirror shortly thereafter.

This adjustment might take time to get accustomed to, but it should notably expand your road visibility and help you eliminate blind spots.

How to Effectively Use Your Mirrors

• Always check your mirrors when starting, stopping, changing lanes, or merging.
• Refer to your rearview mirror every 5-8 seconds.
• Readjust your mirrors each time you enter your vehicle.
• Use your mirrors more frequently in high-traffic scenarios as they help navigate complex driving situations.
• Consider activating the anti-glare feature on your rearview mirror at night to reduce headlight glare.

Remember M.S.M.O.G.

While Changing Lanes:

• Mirror (rearview mirror)
• Signal
• Mirror (side-view mirror)
• Over your shoulder
• Go

With the right settings and these instructions in mind, blind spots should be minimized. While driving, test to determine if vehicles seamlessly traverse from your rearview to your side mirrors.

Always check your mirror adjustments before driving. Variables such as different drivers or adjustments in seating can shift the mirrors, necessitating readjustments.

Be aware that even well-positioned mirrors may still not eliminate all blind spots. Always remember to look over your shoulder before making lateral moves.

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When it comes to ensuring your vehicle is roadworthy and adequately insured, being cognizant of your environment is essential for safe driving to prevent accidents. A significant number of driving test failures stem from the inability to effectively check mirrors when changing directions. Failing to observe surroundings accounted for over 368,000 test failures, a clear indication of the importance of proper mirror usage. Luckily, we're here to assist in sharpening your skills!

In our Driving Instructor Masterclass, Chris Bensted will guide you through the process of improving your mirror observation skills—check out his informative video.

Adjusting Your Car Mirrors

To correctly adjust your mirrors, follow these steps:

1. Sit in the driver's seat, ensuring your seat and steering wheel are comfortable. You should have easy access to the shifting lever and pedals.
2. Adjust the rear-view mirror to view directly out of the center of the back of the car without altering your head position.
3. Identify the mechanism for moving the side mirrors. Some vehicles have electronic buttons for control, while others use small levers on each side for manual adjustments.
4. First, adjust the driver’s side mirror, ensuring you have a clear view of the road next to you along with a slight glimpse of your car.
5. Next, adjust the passenger's mirror similarly, verifying visibility of the road as well as a portion of the vehicle from the driver's perspective.
6. Finally, ensure all mirrors are clearly visible and adjust as necessary before you drive, checking again if your seating position changes.

When Should You Check Your Mirrors?

Regularly using your mirrors is vital for safe driving. You need to remain aware of your surroundings to make informed decisions. The mirrors you check will vary based on the driving situation and your intended maneuvers.

Prior to any maneuver, always check your mirrors, including:

• Pulling Away: Assess your internal mirror for a view of what’s behind, check outside mirrors, and inspect your blind spot.
• Changing Lanes: Observe your interior mirror, outside mirrors, and corresponding blind spot in the direction you’re moving.
• Overtaking: Inspect all mirrors with a focus on the right wing mirror to ensure the path is clear and check your right-side blind spot.
• Turning Left: Inspect the interior mirror and left door mirror before turning, and check the interior mirror post-maneuver too.
• Turning Right: Apply the same procedure as turning left, adjusting your mirrors as necessary.
• Slowing Down/Stopping: Check your mirrors beforehand to gauge how closely vehicles behind you are following.
• Opening Doors: Inspect your mirrors and blind spot before opening your door to avoid potential collisions with vehicles or pedestrians nearby.

Consequences of Neglecting Mirror Checks

Often, nerves can lead to forgetting to check your mirrors during a driving test; however, neglecting this can have serious repercussions. Not checking mirrors correctly can be fatal while driving.

Not verifying your surroundings when changing lanes or braking suddenly, without checking for proximity of vehicles behind you, can increase the risk of collisions. While an instructor may monitor you during lessons, you must independently conduct these checks once you have your license.

Show competence in mirror checks and awareness of your blind spots during your driving test—you’re sure to succeed!

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