The first time an excited teenager steps into a car for driver’s education class, the instructor is going to make sure that they understand how to adjust and check their mirrors. There’s a good reason this is taken so seriously. The rear-view and side-view mirrors on your vehicle are some of the most important safety features you have access to. If these mirrors weren’t available, you would only be able to view certain areas of the road while you drive, which substantially increases the chance of a collision.
It can feel a bit strange and unnatural to take time to look upward and to the sides every few seconds while driving, but it’s critical for avoiding accidents and general road awareness. Today we’re going to look at how to adjust your rear- and side-view mirrors to ensure proper visibility before you start driving.
So you have a car, you’ve paid for insurance, and you’re ready to hit the road. First, you need to make sure you have the mirrors adjusted. But before you start fiddling with any of the controls, there are a few other things you need to do. Adjust your seat first so you can easily see the road, but have easy access to all the controls of your vehicle. If you have a newer vehicle, tilt and telescoping steering columns can make it much easier to get comfortable to start your drive.
There are also some modern cars, most notably from the Ford family of companies, that offer foot pedals that are electrically adjustable to offer more comfort for drivers of all heights. Those who do not have seats that are adjustable, but who find they are sitting too low in the car should use a seat cushion to reach the proper height. You can also take the car into a mechanic to have the seat raised permanently. All of these adjustments should be done before you even put on your seat belt.
This mirror is probably the easiest to adjust of all. You want to position it so you are able to look out the back window using the mirror while in the driver’s seat. You shouldn’t need to move your head to see out the window, only your eyes. Those who are extremely tall may find that positioning the mirror upside down can be helpful. This raises the mirror by a small amount and removes a blind spot that can plague taller drivers.
Most rear-view mirrors also have a switch for day/night which you should position appropriately. During the daytime, you want this on daytime operation so you can better see. If it’s dark outside, flip this to the night setting, as it will reduce the glare from headlights behind you and make it easier to drive without being blinded.
Anyone who has driven at night likely knows the experience of having bright headlights in your rear-view mirrors nearly blinding you. While a day/night switch is found on nearly all rear-view mirrors, there are also mirrors that automatically dim when needed. These mirrors dim in order to avoid the glare of headlights that are approaching your vehicle from behind.
The brightness of the glare determines how much the mirrors dim to make driving at night as safe as possible. While these are not available on every vehicle, about 10% of the vehicles sold today in the United States have this option. However, in most cases, they cannot be ordered on their own. They require buying an expensive luxury package for your vehicle.
Trucks and SUVs can be dangerous in the case of an accident because they are much larger and heavier than other vehicles. They also carry additional hazards when it comes to their headlights, which are typically mounted to be at the same height as another vehicle’s rear-view mirrors. That means that when an SUV is behind you as you drive, the glare from the headlights can reflect off of the mirrors and straight into your eyes. This can cause temporary blinding which increases the chance of an accident. This is just one of the reasons that auto-dimming headlights or switching on night mode for your rear-view mirror is critical in the dark.
You may be surprised to find out that many people adjust their side-view mirrors improperly. If you are anything like them, you may set your mirrors where the side of your car is visible on the inside edge of the side view mirror. The problem with this is that you create massive blind spots by doing so. Basically, you create a situation where what you see in the side mirrors is similar to that of your rear-view mirror.
What you want to do is adjust the side mirrors slightly beyond the point where you can see part of the car in them. This will resolve the issue with blind spots and keep you safer while driving. It can take some time to acclimate to this change, but it’s well worth the effort.
So, when it comes to the passenger’s side mirror, lean to the right to put your head in the center of the car above the center console. Next, adjust the side-view mirror so you see the side of the vehicle before moving back to your typical driving position.
For the driver’s side mirror, put your head against the window and then make adjustments until you see the side of the vehicle. At this point you’ll be in a safe position to begin driving without needing extra adjustments while you drive. Again, this mirror setup could take some getting used to, so be sure that you test it out before driving on the streets for the first time.
Nowadays, many vehicles come with what are called “signal mirrors,” which add high intensity lights to your mirrors to give other drivers another indicator for when your turn signal is on.
With so many SUVs, mini vans, and trucks on the road, this can be a crucial safety feature, as people a few cars back may have no other indication that you are going to be turning. Your turn lights may be covered by tall vehicles or whatever you may be towing. As many accidents happen during lane changing, a signal mirror gives you extra safety, as it is more noticeable than the signal lights on your bumper.
Some vehicles also incorporate blindspot warnings into their side-view mirrors, which are usually little orange or yellow lights that light up to alert you to something in your blind spot. While they're not a substitute for vigilance and good mirror positioning, they can add another layer of warning and help you avoid accidents.
When you follow the instructions above, you will see more of what is going on around you, and you will more easily be seen by others. Remember that being cautious is key, and even the perfect mirror placement does not eliminate every blind spot when driving. By following these tips for mirror placement and blind spot awareness, you can help keep yourself and your passengers safe on the road.