I discovered something amazing

[BlackTigers]

I set my mirrors like this today. It's weird to get used to, and I still cranked my head around a few times, but I'm sure it will be better eventually.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: lokiju
I will never rely only on mirrors.

As being a motorcycle owner also and almost being run off the road nearly every time I go on an extended ride, it's painfully obvious that people that rely on their mirrors to see if a car is next to them do not even take into consideration that there just might be a motorcycle also that isn't so easily seen when you don't actually turn your head to look first.

If you are almost being run off the road on every extended ride you're doing it wrong. Don't ride in a car's blind spot. As evidenced by this thread, most people don't adjust their mirrors properly nor do they check their blind spot before changing lanes.

I also ride a motorcycle and if I find myself entering a car's blind spot I will either speed up and pass or slow down and fall in behind them. Always assume people don't see you on a bike and that they will do something stupid. I also watch their front wheels (more for traffic on two lane roads where a vehicle might turn left in front of you). This will give you a good indication of what a driver is going to do just before he/she does it.

 

[ElFenix]

i've got mine set wide. the passenger mirror is set as wide as possible, and the rest of the mirrors key off of it. a car behind me in the next lane over will be half in my rear view mirror and half in the side mirror. the mirrors aren't fantastic, though, so i suppose a motorcycle could hide right next to me on the drivers' side. when changing lanes, i look at where i'm going (point my head at the A pillar and shift my eyes rapidly back and forth), at my current lane, and at whatever traffic may be two lanes over and coming into my new lane.

 

[BoberFett]

Turning your head tells you who is beside you. Mirrors tell you who is behind you.

If you don't look to your side you could miss someone who is trying to move from the second lane over into the same spot you are.

If you don't use mirrors you won't know about the person flying down the left lane 30mph over the speed limit until he rear ends you.

Both are important.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Xanis
Uh... mirror adjustment was the first thing I learned when I started driving at 16. I thought it was common knowledge.

Yeah, most people learn it when they start driving. But most people learn to do it wrong. Most people adjust the mirror so they can see their car, and that is wrong.

I adjust my side views so that my car is just visible on the side. I find it gives me a frame of reference when judging other traffic.

 

[zerocool1]

0/10

 

[FeuerFrei]

Originally posted by: Throwmeabone
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.

Righto. Only time I'd want to use the side mirrors to view the sides of the vehicle is when backing into a tight spot. At which point leaning right or left a few inches to get a visual is no big deal.
My general rule of thumb is to adjust the mirrors so that I cannot see my car.

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Turning your head tells you who is beside you. Mirrors tell you who is behind you.

If you don't look to your side you could miss someone who is trying to move from the second lane over into the same spot you are.

If you don't use mirrors you won't know about the person flying down the left lane 30mph over the speed limit until he rear ends you.

Both are important.

Good point. Never know when the dude 2 lanes over will attempt a simultaneous merge into the lane you plan to enter. And you can't detect that without glancing over the shoulder.