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I discovered something amazing

Throwmeabone

Throwmeabone

Senior member
Here's a link that explains it: http://www.linquist.net/motorsports/tech/mirrors/

The idea is that the rear view mirror is to see things behind you and the side mirrors are to see cars in your left and right blind spots instead of also being redundantly focused behind you. It makes it SO much easier to merge onto the highway because you can see cars passing through your blind spot without ever having to turn your head (although I still do). I was skeptical at first but I was sold the first time I merged onto the highway. Try it!

Edit: Also for those of you who won't bother to click the link, this is what you do: Touch your head to the left window and move the side mirror until you can't see the side of the car anymore. Then move your head the other way until it is in the center of the car and adjust the right mirror until you can't see the car anymore.
 
I sort of figured this was the common sense crap that DMV book was supposed to teach you at age 14!

Neat link imo.
 
Relying on mirrors instead of turning your head is just stupid. It's just asking for crashes. Mirrors can't catch everything.
 
Originally posted by: zerocool84
Relying on mirrors instead of turning your head is just stupid. It's just asking for crashes. Mirrors can't catch everything.
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Having mirrors that that show you nothing useful is even more stupid. The way most people adjust their side mirrors, they're useless.
 
I use my side mirrors for parallel parking. I always turn my head when switching lanes. Unfortunately some people can't keep their wheel straight if they're not looking forward.
 
Originally posted by: FDF12389
Originally posted by: zerocool84
Relying on mirrors instead of turning your head is just stupid. It's just asking for crashes. Mirrors can't catch everything.
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Agreed
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Yes, but you might as well let your mirrors do as much for your as possible. This minimizes on crashes.

If your theory was correct, then we would have no mirrors.
 
I think it's possible to have the side mirrors adjusted so you can always see a car passing you and theoretically not need to turn your head. You will first see it in your rear view as it approaches, then in your side mirror as it passes through your blind spot, then in your peripheral vision, and finally in front of you as it goes by. That said I think I will always continue to turn my head because a) I'm paranoid about things like that and b) you might still miss smaller objects like cyclists.
 
I drive with mirrors only. I use my side mirrors, and I have small bubble mirrors attached. There aren't any blind spots.
 
Originally posted by: Throwmeabone
I think it's possible to have the side mirrors adjusted so you can always see a car passing you and theoretically not need to turn your head. You will first see it in your rear view as it approaches, then in your side mirror as it passes through your blind spot, then in your peripheral vision, and finally in front of you as it goes by. That said I think I will always continue to turn my head because a) I'm paranoid about things like that and b) you might still miss smaller objects like cyclists.
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I set my mirrors as described in OP, and I still turn my head to change lanes. The mirrors help often enough so that I don't need to turn my head to know that a car is there.
 
The circle mirrors are helpful, especially to see right next to you. I typically use it just to keep an eye on what the car to the left of me is doing whilst passing me. However I don't adjust my mirrors like the link, I prefer to be able to see just a small portion of my car to help me keep things in proportion.
 
Originally posted by: Baked
I use my side mirrors for parallel parking. I always turn my head when switching lanes. Unfortunately some people can't keep their wheel straight if they're not looking forward.
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shit with how people drive in So Cal turning my head can be a bad idea, I have people swirving in front of me all the time. If I turn my head to look back, even for a second is enough time for one of those assclaps to cut in front of me and cause a wreck. NO THANKS. Unless I have to turn I always stay in the same lane 🙂
 
Originally posted by: DEMO24
The circle mirrors are helpful, especially to see right next to you. I typically use it just to keep an eye on what the car to the left of me is doing whilst passing me. However I don't adjust my mirrors like the link, I prefer to be able to see just a small portion of my car to help me keep things in proportion.
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I think I'm going to take my circle mirrors off. Maybe it's just because my eyesight isn't that good anymore, but I always immediately focus on the main mirror area and don't really see what's happening in the circle.

I do use the circle when parking on a curb, but my mirrors automatically shift downwards when I reverse, so even then it doesn't do much.
 
I turn my side mirrors so they're directly facing me. Nothing behind me could possibly match my divine beauty, and I simply don't have the gastrointestinal fortitude to stomach looking at you wretched masses all the time.
 
Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
I turn my side mirrors so they're directly facing me. Nothing behind me could possibly match my divine beauty, and I simply don't have the gastrointestinal fortitude to stomach looking at you wretched masses all the time.
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But your makeup still looks horrible.
 
This should be the first thing you do when you get behind the wheel of any car. Adjust the mirrors so that where things leave off in the rear view mirror come into view on the side view mirror. Adjusted properly you will still have a bit of a blind spot but a quick glance to the side will catch anything in your blind spot in your peripheral vision.

You should NOT be able to see the side of your car in your side view mirrors. Nor should you be turning your head and body to look behind you when changing lanes. You only need to turn your head about 45 degrees from straight ahead to see if there is a car alongside you.

I can't believe how many people don't know this. It should be common knowledge really.
 
Fuck the so called proper adjustment, I set mine to where I feel the safest using them. I also find using those tiny mirrors that you can stick on to work very well.
 
I have the mirrors so that I can barely see the left or right side of the car if I move my head in the appropriate direction. This is handy for backing up. I check blind spots by turning my whole head.
 
++ to already knowing how to properly setup my mirrors but thanks for informing everyone else though. The more people that know this the better.

Also, what we tend to believe is common knowledge usually isn't very common at all.


edit: Oh yea, I drive a convertible.. no blindspots for me 😀


(except in the rain, then my rear view becomes about 80% blindspot D🙂
 
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