How to adjust the wing mirror

Handsome90

Hello everyone,

I'm learning to drive and wanted to know what's the correct way to adjust the wing mirror. The way my instructor taught me is that I should be able to see the car doors. I should mention that the wing mirrors are wide angled and there is a dotted line 1/4 from the edge. The instructor said that it helps eliminate blindspots.

However, some people suggested that the wing mirrors should be adjusted far away from the car doors to minimise blindspots as much as possible. Something like this shown in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwzUE6PHk4U

Which one method would you recommend? Of course I don't want to miss seeing any cyclists and motorcyclists whilst changing lanes or turning.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Good question, far too mnay people haven't a clue how to set mirrors.

Unless you're going to be adjusting the things down (or can afford a car that does that for you, till it goes wrong) then you need to adjust both to be able to see to reverse and for general road use.

You don't need to see birds following or low flying aircraft likely to land on your roof, so not too high, sitting comfortably you should be able to just see the sides of the car on the inside edge of both mirrors, and with sitting up slightly higher (if the mirrors are any good...ie not Insignia) then you should be able to see where the bottom rear of the car is in relation to kerbs/posts etc for parking purposes.

The outside wide angle section shoud provide you with a view of anything alongside until your peripheral vision takes over as the item comes into view directly alongside.

For overtaking, entering motorway/dual carriageway and especially pulling away from rest, you still can't beat a quick glance over the right shoulder, the ''life saver'', as well as using mirrors correctly.

If you do use your mirrors, you'll be the exception as far too many people mincing about on a slip road haven't the foggiest idea they are running alongside an artic till they reach the end of the acceleration lane when they finally look up, then blast their hooters at the lorry driver for having the audacity to be there at all...Darwinism in action.

Ultrasonic

Strange video, why would you want to adjust the mirror to what you can see with your head in an abnormal position?

AndyPK

Somewhere In between.

When learning its good to see your door so you can get awareness about where objects are in comparison.

cootuk

I have them so I can see my doors.
Before changing lanes/turning, I always do a shoulder check.


I might also angle the left one down a bit (if electric) whilst reversing so I can see the kerb better.

Hintza

I have always found it better to look behind you when reversing.

photome

Hintza wrote: »

I have always found it better to look behind you when reversing.

do you have your head out of the window, just asking for those that drive vehicles with no rear window

I have my mirrors so i can just see my doors and I use them for reversing as they are, i dont adjust so that i can see a kerb as I can judge where it is

prowla

I like to adjust mine so that I can just see the edge of my car, and so they show around head head height for following cars.

As far as using the mirrors you should be able to look in the windscreen mounted and both sides wing mirrors without moving your head (apart from a slight turn).

And yes, assuming you are driving a car with all-round visibility, you should also look over your shoulder when reversing (left shoulder) or overtaking (right shoulder).

colino

Most driving instructors would advise you to set the external mirrors to include the flanks of the car. Learners haven't yet developed any real spatial awareness of their cars and this helps to implant, not just in reversing, how much, and where, in a lane their car takes up.

uknick

What, there are mirrors in cars? :rotfl:


You'd never know that from the way people drive around here.

Strider590

You need to adjust so that you can just about see the rear of your car, if you dont do this then you'll have no point of reference and no idea where vehicles and objects are relative to your car.