22 ms·

How to Eliminate the Dreaded “Blind Spot”

242 points by harshulpandav 8y ago

adrr 8y ago
Works only if lane splitting for motorcycles isn't allowed. You need to be able to see between lanes and the rearview can be obscured by a close following vehicle you.
- twblalock 8y ago
  I set up the mirrors in my car this way and I can see the lane dividing lines just fine.
- snarf21 8y ago
  It also means you always need to re-adjust your mirrors for parking, especially for more urban areas. I don't understand why a portion of the mirror can't simply be made convex. There are lots of aftermarket adhesive ones that do exactly this.
  - howeyc 8y ago
    Just tilt your head when parking. Parking is what, <10% of mirror use?
    - neaden 8y ago
      But more than 10% of accidents. A quick Google search turns up 20% of accidents happening in parking lots. Now those are likely to be lower speed than highway, but still something to keep in mind.
  - moolcool 8y ago
    I bought a used car and it came with the sticky convex ones applied. Never going to go without them again, they should totally be mandatory. So simple, so effective
    - jnicholasp 8y ago
      This, exactly. I don't understand why these aren't required stock equipment on all cars.
  - Marsymars 8y ago
    There are cars that come with a convex bit in the mirror in their stock configuration, it's been common in Ford's lineup for years.
  - deltaecho1338 8y ago
    My 2014 vehicle came like this from the manufacturer - the exterior 1/3 of the mirror is convex for a wider field of view.
- ceejayoz 8y ago
  I'm not clear on why you think this doesn't work to see lane-splitting motorcycles. The idea is to have them work like a dual monitor setup - when part of an object moves off one screen, it's just then becoming visible on the second screen. Most people set up their mirrors as if they wanted to read the same PDF on both screens simultaneously.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
- wcarron 8y ago
  I disagree. Proper side view mirror alignment results in the car driver able to clearly see the dividing lines for a significant distance behind the car. A vehicle following closely behind you does (or rather, should) not impede the side view mirrors.
  - adrr 8y ago
    Maybe you should make an article on it. The article diagrams clearly shows a blind spot for lane splitting motorcycles just like every other article on the subject including the youtube videos showing proper alignment mirrors. A car following closely behind you impedes the rearview mirror. Just look out of it next time your stuck in stop and go traffic where lane splitting happens.
    - wcarron 8y ago
      I wrote: > A vehicle following closely behind you does (or rather, should) not impede the side view mirrors. You wrote: > A car following closely behind you impedes the rearview mirror. These are different things. Rear is for viewing the lane you are in. Side is for viewing things to the rear and side of you.
    - kazinator 8y ago
      > The article diagrams clearly shows a blind spot for lane splitting motorcycles No it doesn't; it clearly shows a blind spot immediately next to your vehicle that can at best hide a cyclist who sticks right next to your rear passenger door, or rear left body panel. (Unsurprisingly: these are the parts of your car you don't see.) You might nevertheless him or her in the rear-view through the rear passenger window or quarter glass. Also, you can still see into that area if you tilt your head to the right. That's because the mirror was adjusted that way: to just see the edge of your car with your head tilted toward the side window. I've always set up my mirrors exactly as this article suggests; I learned that in 1986. Before executing a lane change, I not only look in the rear-view mirror and side mirror, but also tilt my head left. Then just a glance left is required, because the lateral blind spot is so reduced by the positioning of the side mirror that it doesn't require a full head turn. > A car following closely behind you impedes the rearview mirror. Yes, a vehicle behind you can occlude a motorcyclist who is riding next to that vehicle. This will be the case even if you drive a convertible with its roof down, and turn your head to face in that direction. If you tilt your head to the left, you may still be able to see that rider in the side mirror, unless the vehicle behind you is very wide, or positioned to the left. In such a situation, that vehicle will be blocking more than just a stripe-riding motorcyclist; that vehicle will obstruct a significant view of the adjacent lane, preventing you from seeing a speeding vehicle a little ways back; you'd be foolish to execute a lane change while being tail-gated like that for reasons not related to stripe-riding motorcyclists.
- kazinator 8y ago
  Doesn't work compared to what other adjustment of the mirrors?
stefan_ 8y ago
"Blind spots" are a sociological device to absolve motorists of responsibility for dangerous driving.
- kubbity 8y ago
  source?
- wffurr 8y ago
  "Oh I didn't see them officer." "Oh I mistook the gas for the brake." "They came out of nowhere." "I didn't have time to stop." etc. etc. etc. The excuses for irresponsible dangerous driving behavior are endless. I yelled at someone for not stopping for a mother and stroller in a crosswalk. The driver said she didn't see them. I said that meant they were going too fast. They said no, they weren't, they just couldn't see them. It was impossible to get through to this person that if you didn't see someone in the crosswalk then they were going too fast and not paying enough attention. Simply amazing. I try not to think about it too hard or I'll never leave the house. The approach of the original post, blind spots for motorcycles and bicycles aside, is at least taking responsibility on the part of the driver to change behavior and drive safely. Every "accident" has a cause, somewhere down the line.
hitpointdrew 8y ago
This is one of those things that most people do wrong and just aren't comfortable doing it the correct way. I tried to get my mother to setup her mirrors correctly but she just puts them back to an improper setup. For some reason people can't get past not being able to see the side of their own vehicle in their side mirrors. They think they need this reference point. Drivers education should really be pushing this so at least new drivers will setup their mirrors correctly.
- nickm12 8y ago
  This is so true. I was fortunate to learn about the technique described in the article when I learned to drive in high school and have used it for the past 25 years. However, I've completely failed to ever convince anyone else that this is the right way to do it. I've mainly tried it with people I shared a car with, first my parents and later my wife. They are so insistent on wanting to see the side of the car, but can't explain why that matters. My only hope is to indoctrinate my children when they start driving.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
wcarron 8y ago
There's an even simpler, more effective way of checking blind spots: Actually turning ones head and looking over the shoulder. The "blind spot" doesn't exist when drivers exercise proper caution and responsible driving behavior. Of course, expecting this of drivers is unrealistically utopian. Nevertheless, a "blind spot" is just another excuse for unsafe drivers.
- tinbad 8y ago
  This is an integral part of a driving exam in the Netherlands. You are drilled to look over the shoulder for literally every maneuver (lane switch, turn, etc.) and if you fail to do it even once during the driving exam you will get a fail. In other news: driving test in the US is a complete joke.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - wcarron 8y ago
    In the US, this is also part of the driving exam. However, it is not an automatic failure on its own. I myself failed to do it once, on the test for turning right after crossing through a bicycle lane on my right. Every other maneuver, I checked over my shoulder. Felt bad because I used to commute via bicycle and it was...well, a little ironic that I messed up there of all places. Agreed, though. The US driving test is pathetic.
    - ams6110 8y ago
      The bike lane on the right scenario is just stupidity. In what other context is it permitted to turn right across another straight-ahead lane to the right? When I turn right and there is a bike lane to my right, I pull into the bike lane first so nobody can pass me.
Havoc 8y ago
I can deal with blindspots. What boggles my mind is that some modern cars still have abnormally large ones. Cars with bad crash ratings get shat on but apparently designs with massive blindspots are totally OK.
- justtopost 8y ago
  Indeed. It puzzles me too how an A-pillar large enough to disapear a motorcycle, or group of children, is somehow accepted as safe. Our indescriminate push for safely has taken control from our hands in many contexts it seems.
  - pps43 8y ago
    Passive safety. A-pillar might be so bulky because it contains curtain airbag and provides structural stability necessary for good crash rating.
    - DaiPlusPlus 8y ago
      Conversely, a thick-enough A-pillar would be a great place for a forward-raving camera and driver-facing flat-panel display with face-tracking camera to always show the right perspective, thus making the A-pillar invisible.
    - muzika 8y ago
      Airbags don’t go into the A pillars typically - they start at about the top of the windshield, and when they blow the headliner tears, but not the plastic covering the A pillar.
      - pps43 8y ago
        You can see at 0:44 here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl4-cO6pO34 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl4-cO6pO34 that a portion of the side airbag is in the upper part of the A pillar. Here's what under the cover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHRZcmA1A9U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHRZcmA1A9U
mattmg83 8y ago
Related concepts, in the Netherlands they taught everyone to open their car door with the right hand, which makes your head turn and improves odds of spotting a cyclist. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/dec/16/how-to-safely-open-a-car-door-dutch-style https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/dec/16/how-to-sa...
- drxzcl 8y ago
  I was taught (in the Netherlands) to hold the door with your right hand while you release the latch with the left. The benefit is not only turning the torso to see cyclists, but also holding on to the door in case there's a gust of wind. The latter has saved the neighbor's car door a number of times.
- dominotw 8y ago
  This is a new law in illinois starting 2019 http://q985online.com/governor-signs-the-dutch-reach-law-that-will-affect-every-illinois-driver/ http://q985online.com/governor-signs-the-dutch-reach-law-tha...
- decebalus1 8y ago
  That's amazingly simple and effective. Awesome!
- u801e 8y ago
  > which makes your head turn and improves odds of spotting a cyclist. It doesn't because, when you turn your head, your view behind you will be blocked by the B-pillar of the car. It's actually better to look in the side mirror to check for cyclist before opening the door. It's actually better to teach cyclists to not ride within 6 feet of a parked vehicle.
hyperrail 8y ago
[Never mind the next para. See child comment I replied to] In driving school, I was taught to adjust my side mirrors exactly the way described here: rear view mirror points to rear, side mirrors just barely show the side of the car. And still there are blind spots in every car I've driven, no matter how much "fine tuning" I do. This is why blind spot warning systems are a must in any new car I consider buying.
- andrewla 8y ago
  You might have misread this -- the way that you learned is the traditional way. The way described on this page, you do _not_ see your own car at all in the side view mirror.
  - hyperrail 8y ago
    Ah I see, you're right. I didn't understand what the author meant when he said you have to lean to one side when adjusting that side's mirror.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- larrik 8y ago
  That's not what this is. This requires leaning your head all the way over and THEN only barely seeing the car. Then, when you sit straight up, you aren't even close to seeing the side of your own car.
ummonk 8y ago
There are smaller things (bicycles, motorcycles, pedestrians) that can sneak into the gap between the side and rearview mirror views here. And colliding with one of those is much more likely to cause serious injury or death than colliding with a car. It's a much better idea to make sure your side and rear mirrors have complete coverage (i.e. no gaps) at the back, and actually turning your head to check the blind spot. Make a habit of doing this on every lane switch or turn, even if you think you're at the side of the road - there may be a bike lane or crosswalk you didn't notice, or someone might be simply be using a nonexistant lane of travel. A good way to adjust your mirrors is to have someone walk by your car, and make sure you can see them in either your rear or side mirrors, and make a note of where you need to look for the blind spot. Of course, even if you make sure the side and rear mirrors provide complete rear coverage, that doesn't always keep things safe - some cyclists and motorcyclists seem to like to jump out from behind a vehicle to lane-split and then get mad when they see you switching lanes in front of them...
- m1n1 8y ago
  This, and the other comments that say turning your head is still necessary. I tried what the link suggests and had many instances where a motorcycle zipped by close to my car -- I didn't notice them until [what would have been] too late because I couldn't see the area next to my car easily that way. Now I have my mirrors adjusted so I can see motorcycles better, and I turn my head to check the remainder. All humans are legally blind in their peripheral vision just a few degrees off-axis, so I make sure to focus where I claim to be checking.
  - Freestyler_3 8y ago
    This method requires you to also lean into the mirror to see more towards the side of the car. It is ridiculous, because the side mirrors should give you a far away view, and then you look to the side to make sure that closeby there is nothing either. You only have to turn your head. Now this method in the article would make you lean into mirror to get behind you, then you go back to normal position and look in the mirror, then you look to the side. Someone thinks they have found a hack to mirrors and driving, but they are just making it more dangerous especially by spreading this new interesting way. The message still stands that a lot of drivers could have avoided hitting someone if they had used their mirrors and looked to the side. Accidents however often happen because of distraction causing a driver not to do what they normally would do.
cafebeen 8y ago
These seem like good guidelines, although I would add that drivers should also be aware of other cars that may merge from the side, so you cannot depend entirely on the mirrors. This happens quite frequently in heavy traffic when folks are eager to take any space available
- techopoly 8y ago
  Agreed, drivers often do not check for this. If I'm merging into a lane, I prefer to do so when not sliding next to another car. If it's inevitable, I do it slowly.
  - deathanatos 8y ago
    Yes! I wish more people thought like this. I've more than once been signaling a merge and had the car two lanes over attempt the opposite merge right into the space I'm signaling into, often when I'm already partially in it, without signaling. I'm very wary of merging next to someone now for that reason.
kpsychwave 8y ago
Blind spot mirrors solve this issue, and they are very cheap. I am surprised they are not mandated by manufacturers.
- Marsymars 8y ago
  It's especially weird that many cars opt for LEDs in the corner of the mirror that light up when blind-spot sensors detect a vehicle in the blind spot. Seems both less effective, more failure-prone, and more expensive than a simple blind spot mirror.
  - skaomatic 8y ago
    Likely because they've found the tech attractive to buyers compared to "hey, we have another mirror on this mirror" - and that they can pad their dealer network's income stream from the all-too-common side mirror repair/replacement. But, yes. From a practical standpoint - it's utterly bizzare to me as well!
  - brewdad 8y ago
    For me, the mirrors on my Golf make no sense. There is an amber blind spot warning light on the mirror. That I can live with. However, about 1 inch away is another amber light that blinks when I activate my turn signal. More than once, I have freaked myself out thinking the blind spot detection was alerting rather than my turn signal. Horrible design.
- AngryData 8y ago
  I agree, except many times those blindspot mirrors are made WAY too small, of course I also think a number of cars just have too small of mirrors in the first place. They should be easily checkable with a glance, but those real tiny spot mirrors require significant focus to even tell what you are looking at.
- Nadya 8y ago
  They look ugly and people don't want them. It should be mandated by law, much like seatbelts IMO.
trumpeta 8y ago
Similar topic was discussed on HN a while back: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17900759 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17900759 I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet.
karmakaze 8y ago
Side mirrors are called that either because they're mounted on the sides, or to see what's beside you. Specifically they're not there so you can see the sides of your own car. As mentioned in other comments, what you seen in side mirrors are for situational awareness. When performing a manoeuvre, turn your head around to get the best view.
lmilcin 8y ago
I have used this advice for the past decade and I could not recommend it more. After just few days of driving like that I could not believe how it was possible for me to drive with incorrectly set mirrors like 99÷ of car drivers.
- tarabanga 8y ago
  I see many comments complaining about almost hitting bikes while using this method. How is your experience?
  - lmilcin 8y ago
    Okay, so the important thing to understand that with this method your mirrors don't overlap. Before, you could ignore your rear view mirror and just look in the side mirror to get the same coverage but slightly extended on that side. With correctly set mirrors you absolutely have to use both rear view mirror and the side mirror if you want to change the lane or are looking for a cyclist when turning. I made some tests when I first started. I parked my car parallel to the street and observed when cars move from behind they move out of the rear view mirror and start appearing in side mirror before wholly disappear from rear view mirror. With bicycles it is more difficult, not all parts of bicycle are easy to spot. If you just get a rear part or front wheel in the mirror you might miss it (it may be below your vision if you have SUV or have mirrors set bit high). For this reason I have my side mirrors set low, which also aides backing up when parking. It is also important to look at your mirrors correctly. If you look for things moving faster than you, which is most of the time (for example when you are changing lanes or looking for cyclists when turning right) then you need to first look into the rear view mirror and then to side mirror, in that order. I taught myself to scan all mirrors constantly when driving to have a map of all cars and their relative positions and velocities around me. It is tiring at the beginning but it means I am rarely surprised by normally moving cars (ie. not doing any stupid manouvers). It is very helpful when you need to suddenly swerve and you can frequently anticipate problems other drivers have and accommodate.
justapassenger 8y ago
Blind spot can be greatly reduced. Just take a look at convex, wide-angle mirrors that cars have in EU.
jeklj 8y ago
Even if you did make this adjustment, there isn't a good way to know you've done it properly. I just avoid relying only on mirrors. I don't feel safe unless I turn to look.
chooseaname 8y ago
My father taught me this forever ago when I was learning to drive. If this is done correctly, as a vehicle is coming up on, say, the left of you, as it is leaving your rear view mirror, it's entering the side view mirror. It should actually be in BOTH mirrors simultaneously. There's no blind spot.
AngryData 8y ago
This is how you end up thinking you don't have blindspots and end up hitting someone/something. Blind spots need to be checked by turning your head unless you have 4 inch round fisheye mirrors that would fit equally well on a dumptruck or semi-truck. Those little tiny spot mirrors on consumer cars? Those are 4/5 times complete garbage and don't give nearly enough vision. If someone walks behind your car, at no point in time should they disappear without moving your head even for a fraction of a second.
InclinedPlane 8y ago
1. Adjust your side mirrors so they have minimal overlap in coverage, which means you get maximum overall field of view. 2. Check your mirrors routinely (though not constantly, that can be distracting in itself). Stuff doesn't just sneak up on you out of nowhere, unless you aren't paying attention. Cars can't materialize in your blind spot, they have to drive there, and if you're paying attention you'll see them, you'll know where they are even when you can't see them in your mirrors directly. Don't just use your mirrors as a final check as you are changing lanes or making a turn, use them to maintain situational awareness around you. 3. Check your blindspot by turning your head and looking at it with your eyes before you make a lane change or turn. This is your last minute double check that your situational awareness map of what's around you is accurate. If you've been paying attention then this check will almost always be what you expect, but it's still valuable to double check (the belt and suspenders strategy). 4. (actually number zero) STOP FOLLOWING SO CLOSELY. Drive defensively, leave a decent gap ahead of you, don't drive for extended periods of time side by side with other vehicles (especially much bigger ones). This sets you up for success instead of setting you up for failure, it means you have a buffer on your reaction time. If you have an extra second or two of reaction time in addition to your emergency braking distance ahead of you then even if the car ahead of you comes to a dead stop right when you have your head turned for a split second to check your blind spot then you will still be able to come to a stop without hitting them when you bring your head back and react to what's going on, for example. Stack the odds in your favor, not against them. And don't let yourself be ruled by the dumb primitive impulses that tell you driving a car is always a race and you need to "win" and be aggressive and dominate others, etc, it's not any of those things, relax, concentrate on getting where you need to be safely. P.S. Not checking your blind spots by turning your head is illegal in most states.
amatecha 8y ago
Yeah for years I've already done what the link mentions -- basically make the side mirrors point quite some way out. Depending on the vehicle you may have a small "blind spot" still, which is why you _always shoulder check_ before changing lanes or turning!
aidenn0 8y ago
I cannot adjust my mirrors this way in my new car (they do not go sufficiently far "away" from the side of my vehicle). Had I noticed before buying it, I would have not bought it, but I'm stuck with it now.
deathanatos 8y ago
Am I the only one that doesn't find the blind spot to be where this article puts it? (Between the side mirror and the rear mirror's coverage areas.) I can (barely) see the entire side of my car in my side mirror; anything closer to behind me is going to appear in the rear mirror. The part I have trouble with is the other side of the side mirror, that is, the forward part of its coverage. A car can sit forward of what the mirror can see, but not yet in my peripheral vision. So I turn my head when merging, to clear that area. (Perhaps I have my side mirror pointing further "back" than the article?)
- arnarbi 8y ago
  Yes, the point of the article is to adjust the side mirrors further out in order to shrink the regular blind spot (the same one you are talking about). I disagree with that though, for two reasons: 1. You don't eliminate the blind spot, only shrink it. Depending on your car, the FoV of the mirrors, and the size of the other vehicle, you might still have a large enough blind spot so that your peripheral vision doesn't have it once it leaves the side mirror. 2. It risks creating an even more dangerous blind spot behind you (the one between the mirror views). Maybe not large enough for a car, but definitely for a motorcycle. This one is much harder to catch even if you turn your head. I think every driver should turn their head, always.
11thEarlOfMar 8y ago
I've been aligning my mirrors like this for years. I prefer it because I can see cars in immediate adjacent positions without turning my head. It's particularly helpful in situations where I need to very quickly assess the situation, such as unexpected debris on the road and little time to react. As noted, however, motorcycles can draw up unseen. But more often, when it fails, it's a car two lanes over to my rear that changes lanes towards me at the same time I do. it can go completely unseen. So I always do a head check, time permitting.
- Noumenon72 8y ago
  Yes. I always turn my head before I switch lanes, but I much more frequently am just aware that I don't need to turn my head because there is someone beside me. And you gain continuous situational awareness that means you pretty much always know which way you can go if you have to. I also have had more surprise cars coming up next to me than motorcycles, because they're so rare and they don't come ut in the winter.
donclark 8y ago
I bought these to try to help lessen the blind spot: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Adjustable-Blind-Spot-Mirror-Wide-Angle-Rear-View-Car-Side-Mirror-with-Adhesive/273433031968?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Adjustable-Blind-Spot-Mirror-Wide-A...
fierybanana 8y ago
Here's a paper going into some technical details of blind spots and how to overcome them: https://doi.org/10.4271/950601 https://doi.org/10.4271/950601 The Geometry of Automotive Rearview Mirrors - Why Blind Zones Exist and Strategies to Overcome Them
- tacon 8y ago
  Googling that paper turned up an interesting summary of innovations in side mirrors, etc. https://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/are-blind-spots-a-myth/ https://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/are-blind-spots-...
dominotw 8y ago
anyone try the new lcd rearview mirrors. some of them claim no blindspot. https://www.amazon.com/Master-Tailgaters-Mirror-Adjusting-Brightness/dp/B06XHQ1QXX/ https://www.amazon.com/Master-Tailgaters-Mirror-Adjusting-Br...
mstade 8y ago
My driving instructor in Sweden gave me a rhyme to remember. It consisted of only three words: blicken, pilen, filen. It literally translates to: the view, the signal, the lane – in that order. Basically you always look through the mirrors first and take a glance to the side your changing lanes into to cover the blind spot, then if it's safe you turn on the signal, and then you switch lanes. It's not entirely accurate, since you need to keep an eye on things all the time, but it's helped me develop a routine that's pretty much impossible to break these days. It's almost like I scan still hear him, 10+ years later. He was a great instructor.
- mlillie 8y ago
  US equivalent is SMOG: Signal, Mirrors, Over the shoulder, Go when safe. Not sure whether it is better to signal before or after looking, but that was what my partner's driving instructor taught.
  - mstade 8y ago
    The point of looking first, as explained by my instructor, was to not freak out other drivers by signaling first. They might think you're going to suddenly pop out of the lane, spooking them to either speed up or slow down, or perhaps swirving, causing an accident that way. By looking first to make sure things are clear, you mitigate this risk. Of course, in heavy traffic this is still an issue; but heavy traffic typically means lower speeds as well so not necessarily as dangerous. That's the bit that comes with experience I suppose, learning when more attention is necessary.
    - singingboyo 8y ago
      My thought is that signaling before the full check gives the other driver a chance to make sure they're comfortable with and prepared for the change, but obviously you want to know they're there already. I think the missing point in that SMOG acronym is general awareness. I don't know if they teach this, but I won't signal unless I'm already quite sure I'm lined up with a clear space I want to get into. But, once I'm aligned and think I'm good, I'll signal, double check mirrors, shoulder check, and then go. The only new info that gives is the shoulder check, and if you're paying attention a shoulder check should never surprise you. If you need to change lanes within the next 30 seconds, and don't already have general knowledge of the destination lane's status, you've screwed up already. [1] It makes much more sense to consider checking after signaling if it's a double-check, not your first look at what's around you.
seshagiric 8y ago
I like how some new cars automatically switch on side cameras the moment you turn on the indicators. Safety Features like these should be mandatory in all vehicles just like seat belts. On a side note I follow the practice described in the article and found it quite useful.
OxO4 8y ago
Fun fact: European driver-side mirrors actually have a larger FOV than their US counterparts. It took me a while to get used to that when I moved to the US. I ended up buying some small blind spot mirrors that can be stuck onto the car's mirrors. I've been pretty happy with that solution (in combination with looking over my shoulder).
janci 8y ago
The problem with any adjustment is that he car can just pass from one view to another just between you refocus your eyes between them (ie. from rear to side mirror, from side mirror to side window). The solution is panoramatic rear view mirror (you can see thru the rear plus backseat side windows) and side mirrors with curved section that pretty much eliminate the blind spot
- danjayh 8y ago
  GM has a fantastic camera enhanced rear-view mirror that solves a lot of these blind-spot problems ... http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/general-motors-technology/gm-safety-technology/gm-active-safety-technology/gm-rear-camera-mirror/ http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/general-motors-technology/gm-... Hope it catches on. Can't wait till it's on more makes/models.
  - oftenwrong 8y ago
    >Researchers and engineers working on the GM Rear Camera Mirror have been awarded 10 patents – one for the streaming video mirror and nine for video processing. The patents cover innovations in the wide field of view camera image calibration, de-warping, glare reduction and camera hardware design. I assume that this will add some friction to adoption of similar video mirrors by other automakers.
rdiddly 8y ago
If this eliminates the blind spot, what's the white stripe in the 2nd illustration, between the side and rear mirror views? It's the blind spot. And someone on foot, on a bicycle, or on a motorcycle can fit in it. Turn your head, lazy-ass.
huffmsa 8y ago
Exactly how we were taught to set the mirrors in drivers ed. They don't teach it in Wisconsin. Nor do they teach how to use blinkers, or to deal with multiple people coming up to a stop sign controlled intersection. But I digress.
Jagat 8y ago
A blindspot mirror costs $5. I'm really surprised it's not mandated by law in the US.
BXLE_1-1-BitIs1 8y ago
Been doing that for over 20 years.
ssambros 8y ago
People who drove cars in the EU and in the USA: did you ever notice how the blind spot problem almost completely disappears in the EU? That's because US enforces in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #111 [1] that the left side rear view mirror cannot be convex, to aid the detection of the vehicles in the blind spot. I have not yet come up with a good understanding of why that regulation even exists, but personally I feel much safer on the road with the European type rear view mirrors. [1] 49 CFR 571.111 Rear visibility S5.2 Outside rearview mirror - driver's side. S5.2.1 Field of view. Each passenger car shall have an outside mirror of unit magnification [2]. [2] 'Unit magnification' mirror means a plane or flat mirror with a reflective surface through which the angular height and width of the image of an object is equal to the angular height and width of the object when viewed directly at the same distance except for flaws that do not exceed normal manufacturing tolerances.
- Hello71 8y ago
  it's the same reason that convex mirrors in America must have the text "OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR" engraved. i.e. Americans (think Americans) are stupid.
  - ssambros 8y ago
    > it's the same reason that convex mirrors in America must have the text Precisely. S5.4.2 Each convex mirror shall have permanently and indelibly marked at the lower edge of the mirror's reflective surface, in letters not less than 4.8 mm nor more than 6.4 mm high the words “Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear.”
rrock 8y ago
No. A thousand times no. I did this, on the advice of “Click” and “Clack” the CarTalk brothers. Shortly after, I backed into a short concrete pillar and messed up my left rear fender. The pillar was too short to see out of the back window, but I would have seen it if my side mirrors were set correctly as they reach you in school. You have to see where your fenders are going. Imagine if it was a small child back there instead of a pillar.
- freetime2 8y ago
  Yeah I also worry this advice would make it harder to back up. I drive a large minivan and use my side view mirrors all the time to check if I’m going to hit something when backing up. That would be a lot harder if I were not able to see my own car in the mirror. Although I guess all you would need to do to see your own car in the mirror would be to lean to the side a bit... so maybe not a big deal.
parfamz 8y ago
Is it legal to have European style mirrors in the us? I almost crashed due to the stupid American bathroom mirrors.
Johnny555 8y ago
I rented a car once that had blind spot cameras in the outside rear view mirrors -- when you turn on the turn signal, it displayed the camera's view in the multifunction display in the middle of the dashboard. It had a better field of view than the mirror, and made it very easy to see if there's a bike or pedestrian beside you. Since it was just a rental, out of habit I still turned my head to look, but it seemed like a useful. I think it even flashed and beeped a warning if there was someone in the blind spot, but that may have only worked for cars. I think these systems should be required for trucks and other large vehicles that have a large blind spot. http://www.carblogmy.com/honda-blindspot-display-system/ http://www.carblogmy.com/honda-blindspot-display-system/
sys_64738 8y ago
George McFly's vehicle had a blind spot according to Biff!
erobbins 8y ago
I've almost been hit by so many idiots who don't turn their heads and just trust their stupid mirrors, I want to have 5 minutes alone in a locked room with whoever wrote this article.
blattimwind 8y ago
> must have been in the Insured's blind spot, therefore it was an unavoidable accident No shoulder check => gross negligence => revoke license
null000 8y ago
I've been doing this for years. TBC - it doesn't eliminate the need to check your blind spot anyway (as many have mentioned) - just makes it more likely that you catch something moving unexpectedly into your blind spot, or you catch it before turning to look. Also, the positioning is difficult to get used to, since you kinda have to trust it blindly (you can't get a good idea for where it's positioned based on seeing the side of your car) and then also it's just awful positioning for parking. Not to mention, anyone else using or sharing your car will complain to no end about the weird mirror positions.
wtmt 8y ago
In India, rear view mirrors with a wider view have been available as "clip on" options for a long time. If those are made standard in cars (instead of as addons), the specific "blind spot" problem would instantly disappear. Many of these aren't even highly convex, and so don't create much of a distance perception problem.
jccalhoun 8y ago
I saw this in a magazine years ago and have been doing it ever since. Last semester I was driving university cars a couple days a week and I would sometimes be amazed at how people had the side mirrors set up.
sizzle 8y ago
Lane change assist alerting in modern cars has saved me from hitting cars in my blind spot, this tech makes a beeping alert when you hit the turn signal and a car is in the lane you are signaling towards.
Zelphyr 8y ago
I have a seven year-old Prius and the support columns on the left and right of the windshield are huge. I can't count the number of times I'll be pulling up to a stop sign only to stop and freak out when a pedestrian walks right in front of me. See, they're walking across the cross-walk at a pace that seems to match my slow speed but they're behind that giant support column so I don't see them until I've stopped. Usually, they're freaking out too and mouthing/gesturing bad things at me for not stopping sooner. This, of course, coupled with the fact that they were probably looking at their phone and couldn't hear me because at that speed, the engine has shut off. The instructions in this post are great and I'm going to follow them the next time I get in my car. Still, I hope Toyota and other manufacturers start making pedestrian detection systems and blind spot information systems standard in all vehicles soon.
Lucent 8y ago
I looked at some other "tips" in the folder and found this: http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~gdguo/driving/RoadMarkings.htm http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~gdguo/driving/RoadMarkings.htm which suggests it's OK to turn into any lane, near or far. That's not acceptable in my state. You must turn into the nearest lane.
jimbobimbo 8y ago
I drive cars that get a bad rep for visibility. This is the advice on mirror adjustment I swear by: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15131074/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-avoid-blind-spots/ https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15131074/how-to-adjus...
jve 8y ago
Additional advice: 1. Buy additional spherical mirrors. I bought them for sole reason to see blind spot and they are great. There are oval ones like https://www.amazon.com/Blind-Spot-Mirror-Convex-Mirrors-GUARANTEED/dp/B0093LYB20 https://www.amazon.com/Blind-Spot-Mirror-Convex-Mirrors-GUAR... but I actually found additional small spherical mirrors and added them. They mount on existing mirror. 2. Change lanes slowly so if I didn't notice someone, he can dodge or horn me. Those blind spot indicator ligts surely help on newer cars, but I don't have them. I know that it is possible to buy those too.
pishpash 8y ago
This whole discussion is aggravating. There would be no blind spot if there were two mirrors per side, or those blind spot mirrors, or god forbid, space-remapping cameras or proximity detectors (which now are standard on some cars). It's at the end a cost issue.
realnameme 8y ago
I read this article on Hacker News a while back and it seems on target to give pause for thought. I recommend reading it to understand more about saccades. This phenomenon may also help explain some accidents. Cheers, link next https://www.portsmouthctc.org.uk/a-fighter-pilots-guide-to-surviving-on-the-roads/ https://www.portsmouthctc.org.uk/a-fighter-pilots-guide-to-s...
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

242 points by harshulpandav 8y ago

adrr 8y ago

Works only if lane splitting for motorcycles isn't allowed. You need to be able to see between lanes and the rearview can be obscured by a close following vehicle you.

twblalock 8y ago
I set up the mirrors in my car this way and I can see the lane dividing lines just fine.
snarf21 8y ago
It also means you always need to re-adjust your mirrors for parking, especially for more urban areas. I don't understand why a portion of the mirror can't simply be made convex. There are lots of aftermarket adhesive ones that do exactly this.
- howeyc 8y ago
  Just tilt your head when parking. Parking is what, <10% of mirror use?
  - neaden 8y ago
    But more than 10% of accidents. A quick Google search turns up 20% of accidents happening in parking lots. Now those are likely to be lower speed than highway, but still something to keep in mind.
- moolcool 8y ago
  I bought a used car and it came with the sticky convex ones applied. Never going to go without them again, they should totally be mandatory. So simple, so effective
  - jnicholasp 8y ago
    This, exactly. I don't understand why these aren't required stock equipment on all cars.
- Marsymars 8y ago
  There are cars that come with a convex bit in the mirror in their stock configuration, it's been common in Ford's lineup for years.
- deltaecho1338 8y ago
  My 2014 vehicle came like this from the manufacturer - the exterior 1/3 of the mirror is convex for a wider field of view.
ceejayoz 8y ago
I'm not clear on why you think this doesn't work to see lane-splitting motorcycles. The idea is to have them work like a dual monitor setup - when part of an object moves off one screen, it's just then becoming visible on the second screen. Most people set up their mirrors as if they wanted to read the same PDF on both screens simultaneously.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
wcarron 8y ago
I disagree. Proper side view mirror alignment results in the car driver able to clearly see the dividing lines for a significant distance behind the car. A vehicle following closely behind you does (or rather, should) not impede the side view mirrors.
- adrr 8y ago
  Maybe you should make an article on it. The article diagrams clearly shows a blind spot for lane splitting motorcycles just like every other article on the subject including the youtube videos showing proper alignment mirrors. A car following closely behind you impedes the rearview mirror. Just look out of it next time your stuck in stop and go traffic where lane splitting happens.
  - wcarron 8y ago
    I wrote: > A vehicle following closely behind you does (or rather, should) not impede the side view mirrors. You wrote: > A car following closely behind you impedes the rearview mirror. These are different things. Rear is for viewing the lane you are in. Side is for viewing things to the rear and side of you.
  - kazinator 8y ago
    > The article diagrams clearly shows a blind spot for lane splitting motorcycles No it doesn't; it clearly shows a blind spot immediately next to your vehicle that can at best hide a cyclist who sticks right next to your rear passenger door, or rear left body panel. (Unsurprisingly: these are the parts of your car you don't see.) You might nevertheless him or her in the rear-view through the rear passenger window or quarter glass. Also, you can still see into that area if you tilt your head to the right. That's because the mirror was adjusted that way: to just see the edge of your car with your head tilted toward the side window. I've always set up my mirrors exactly as this article suggests; I learned that in 1986. Before executing a lane change, I not only look in the rear-view mirror and side mirror, but also tilt my head left. Then just a glance left is required, because the lateral blind spot is so reduced by the positioning of the side mirror that it doesn't require a full head turn. > A car following closely behind you impedes the rearview mirror. Yes, a vehicle behind you can occlude a motorcyclist who is riding next to that vehicle. This will be the case even if you drive a convertible with its roof down, and turn your head to face in that direction. If you tilt your head to the left, you may still be able to see that rider in the side mirror, unless the vehicle behind you is very wide, or positioned to the left. In such a situation, that vehicle will be blocking more than just a stripe-riding motorcyclist; that vehicle will obstruct a significant view of the adjacent lane, preventing you from seeing a speeding vehicle a little ways back; you'd be foolish to execute a lane change while being tail-gated like that for reasons not related to stripe-riding motorcyclists.
kazinator 8y ago
Doesn't work compared to what other adjustment of the mirrors?

stefan_ 8y ago

"Blind spots" are a sociological device to absolve motorists of responsibility for dangerous driving.

kubbity 8y ago
source?
wffurr 8y ago
"Oh I didn't see them officer." "Oh I mistook the gas for the brake." "They came out of nowhere." "I didn't have time to stop." etc. etc. etc. The excuses for irresponsible dangerous driving behavior are endless. I yelled at someone for not stopping for a mother and stroller in a crosswalk. The driver said she didn't see them. I said that meant they were going too fast. They said no, they weren't, they just couldn't see them. It was impossible to get through to this person that if you didn't see someone in the crosswalk then they were going too fast and not paying enough attention. Simply amazing. I try not to think about it too hard or I'll never leave the house. The approach of the original post, blind spots for motorcycles and bicycles aside, is at least taking responsibility on the part of the driver to change behavior and drive safely. Every "accident" has a cause, somewhere down the line.

hitpointdrew 8y ago

This is one of those things that most people do wrong and just aren't comfortable doing it the correct way. I tried to get my mother to setup her mirrors correctly but she just puts them back to an improper setup. For some reason people can't get past not being able to see the side of their own vehicle in their side mirrors. They think they need this reference point. Drivers education should really be pushing this so at least new drivers will setup their mirrors correctly.

nickm12 8y ago
This is so true. I was fortunate to learn about the technique described in the article when I learned to drive in high school and have used it for the past 25 years. However, I've completely failed to ever convince anyone else that this is the right way to do it. I've mainly tried it with people I shared a car with, first my parents and later my wife. They are so insistent on wanting to see the side of the car, but can't explain why that matters. My only hope is to indoctrinate my children when they start driving.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

wcarron 8y ago

There's an even simpler, more effective way of checking blind spots: Actually turning ones head and looking over the shoulder. The "blind spot" doesn't exist when drivers exercise proper caution and responsible driving behavior. Of course, expecting this of drivers is unrealistically utopian. Nevertheless, a "blind spot" is just another excuse for unsafe drivers.

tinbad 8y ago
This is an integral part of a driving exam in the Netherlands. You are drilled to look over the shoulder for literally every maneuver (lane switch, turn, etc.) and if you fail to do it even once during the driving exam you will get a fail. In other news: driving test in the US is a complete joke.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- wcarron 8y ago
  In the US, this is also part of the driving exam. However, it is not an automatic failure on its own. I myself failed to do it once, on the test for turning right after crossing through a bicycle lane on my right. Every other maneuver, I checked over my shoulder. Felt bad because I used to commute via bicycle and it was...well, a little ironic that I messed up there of all places. Agreed, though. The US driving test is pathetic.
  - ams6110 8y ago
    The bike lane on the right scenario is just stupidity. In what other context is it permitted to turn right across another straight-ahead lane to the right? When I turn right and there is a bike lane to my right, I pull into the bike lane first so nobody can pass me.

Havoc 8y ago

I can deal with blindspots. What boggles my mind is that some modern cars still have abnormally large ones. Cars with bad crash ratings get shat on but apparently designs with massive blindspots are totally OK.

justtopost 8y ago
Indeed. It puzzles me too how an A-pillar large enough to disapear a motorcycle, or group of children, is somehow accepted as safe. Our indescriminate push for safely has taken control from our hands in many contexts it seems.
- pps43 8y ago
  Passive safety. A-pillar might be so bulky because it contains curtain airbag and provides structural stability necessary for good crash rating.
  - DaiPlusPlus 8y ago
    Conversely, a thick-enough A-pillar would be a great place for a forward-raving camera and driver-facing flat-panel display with face-tracking camera to always show the right perspective, thus making the A-pillar invisible.
  - muzika 8y ago
    Airbags don’t go into the A pillars typically - they start at about the top of the windshield, and when they blow the headliner tears, but not the plastic covering the A pillar.
    - pps43 8y ago
      You can see at 0:44 here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl4-cO6pO34 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl4-cO6pO34 that a portion of the side airbag is in the upper part of the A pillar. Here's what under the cover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHRZcmA1A9U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHRZcmA1A9U

mattmg83 8y ago

Related concepts, in the Netherlands they taught everyone to open their car door with the right hand, which makes your head turn and improves odds of spotting a cyclist. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/dec/16/how-to-safely-open-a-car-door-dutch-style https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/dec/16/how-to-sa...

drxzcl 8y ago
I was taught (in the Netherlands) to hold the door with your right hand while you release the latch with the left. The benefit is not only turning the torso to see cyclists, but also holding on to the door in case there's a gust of wind. The latter has saved the neighbor's car door a number of times.
dominotw 8y ago
This is a new law in illinois starting 2019 http://q985online.com/governor-signs-the-dutch-reach-law-that-will-affect-every-illinois-driver/ http://q985online.com/governor-signs-the-dutch-reach-law-tha...
decebalus1 8y ago
That's amazingly simple and effective. Awesome!
u801e 8y ago
> which makes your head turn and improves odds of spotting a cyclist. It doesn't because, when you turn your head, your view behind you will be blocked by the B-pillar of the car. It's actually better to look in the side mirror to check for cyclist before opening the door. It's actually better to teach cyclists to not ride within 6 feet of a parked vehicle.

hyperrail 8y ago

[Never mind the next para. See child comment I replied to] In driving school, I was taught to adjust my side mirrors exactly the way described here: rear view mirror points to rear, side mirrors just barely show the side of the car. And still there are blind spots in every car I've driven, no matter how much "fine tuning" I do. This is why blind spot warning systems are a must in any new car I consider buying.

andrewla 8y ago
You might have misread this -- the way that you learned is the traditional way. The way described on this page, you do _not_ see your own car at all in the side view mirror.
- hyperrail 8y ago
  Ah I see, you're right. I didn't understand what the author meant when he said you have to lean to one side when adjusting that side's mirror.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
larrik 8y ago
That's not what this is. This requires leaning your head all the way over and THEN only barely seeing the car. Then, when you sit straight up, you aren't even close to seeing the side of your own car.

ummonk 8y ago

There are smaller things (bicycles, motorcycles, pedestrians) that can sneak into the gap between the side and rearview mirror views here. And colliding with one of those is much more likely to cause serious injury or death than colliding with a car. It's a much better idea to make sure your side and rear mirrors have complete coverage (i.e. no gaps) at the back, and actually turning your head to check the blind spot. Make a habit of doing this on every lane switch or turn, even if you think you're at the side of the road - there may be a bike lane or crosswalk you didn't notice, or someone might be simply be using a nonexistant lane of travel. A good way to adjust your mirrors is to have someone walk by your car, and make sure you can see them in either your rear or side mirrors, and make a note of where you need to look for the blind spot. Of course, even if you make sure the side and rear mirrors provide complete rear coverage, that doesn't always keep things safe - some cyclists and motorcyclists seem to like to jump out from behind a vehicle to lane-split and then get mad when they see you switching lanes in front of them...

m1n1 8y ago
This, and the other comments that say turning your head is still necessary. I tried what the link suggests and had many instances where a motorcycle zipped by close to my car -- I didn't notice them until [what would have been] too late because I couldn't see the area next to my car easily that way. Now I have my mirrors adjusted so I can see motorcycles better, and I turn my head to check the remainder. All humans are legally blind in their peripheral vision just a few degrees off-axis, so I make sure to focus where I claim to be checking.
- Freestyler_3 8y ago
  This method requires you to also lean into the mirror to see more towards the side of the car. It is ridiculous, because the side mirrors should give you a far away view, and then you look to the side to make sure that closeby there is nothing either. You only have to turn your head. Now this method in the article would make you lean into mirror to get behind you, then you go back to normal position and look in the mirror, then you look to the side. Someone thinks they have found a hack to mirrors and driving, but they are just making it more dangerous especially by spreading this new interesting way. The message still stands that a lot of drivers could have avoided hitting someone if they had used their mirrors and looked to the side. Accidents however often happen because of distraction causing a driver not to do what they normally would do.

cafebeen 8y ago

These seem like good guidelines, although I would add that drivers should also be aware of other cars that may merge from the side, so you cannot depend entirely on the mirrors. This happens quite frequently in heavy traffic when folks are eager to take any space available

techopoly 8y ago
Agreed, drivers often do not check for this. If I'm merging into a lane, I prefer to do so when not sliding next to another car. If it's inevitable, I do it slowly.
- deathanatos 8y ago
  Yes! I wish more people thought like this. I've more than once been signaling a merge and had the car two lanes over attempt the opposite merge right into the space I'm signaling into, often when I'm already partially in it, without signaling. I'm very wary of merging next to someone now for that reason.

kpsychwave 8y ago

Blind spot mirrors solve this issue, and they are very cheap. I am surprised they are not mandated by manufacturers.

Marsymars 8y ago
It's especially weird that many cars opt for LEDs in the corner of the mirror that light up when blind-spot sensors detect a vehicle in the blind spot. Seems both less effective, more failure-prone, and more expensive than a simple blind spot mirror.
- skaomatic 8y ago
  Likely because they've found the tech attractive to buyers compared to "hey, we have another mirror on this mirror" - and that they can pad their dealer network's income stream from the all-too-common side mirror repair/replacement. But, yes. From a practical standpoint - it's utterly bizzare to me as well!
- brewdad 8y ago
  For me, the mirrors on my Golf make no sense. There is an amber blind spot warning light on the mirror. That I can live with. However, about 1 inch away is another amber light that blinks when I activate my turn signal. More than once, I have freaked myself out thinking the blind spot detection was alerting rather than my turn signal. Horrible design.
AngryData 8y ago
I agree, except many times those blindspot mirrors are made WAY too small, of course I also think a number of cars just have too small of mirrors in the first place. They should be easily checkable with a glance, but those real tiny spot mirrors require significant focus to even tell what you are looking at.
Nadya 8y ago
They look ugly and people don't want them. It should be mandated by law, much like seatbelts IMO.

trumpeta 8y ago

Similar topic was discussed on HN a while back: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17900759 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17900759 I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet.

karmakaze 8y ago

Side mirrors are called that either because they're mounted on the sides, or to see what's beside you. Specifically they're not there so you can see the sides of your own car. As mentioned in other comments, what you seen in side mirrors are for situational awareness. When performing a manoeuvre, turn your head around to get the best view.

lmilcin 8y ago

I have used this advice for the past decade and I could not recommend it more. After just few days of driving like that I could not believe how it was possible for me to drive with incorrectly set mirrors like 99÷ of car drivers.

tarabanga 8y ago
I see many comments complaining about almost hitting bikes while using this method. How is your experience?
- lmilcin 8y ago
  Okay, so the important thing to understand that with this method your mirrors don't overlap. Before, you could ignore your rear view mirror and just look in the side mirror to get the same coverage but slightly extended on that side. With correctly set mirrors you absolutely have to use both rear view mirror and the side mirror if you want to change the lane or are looking for a cyclist when turning. I made some tests when I first started. I parked my car parallel to the street and observed when cars move from behind they move out of the rear view mirror and start appearing in side mirror before wholly disappear from rear view mirror. With bicycles it is more difficult, not all parts of bicycle are easy to spot. If you just get a rear part or front wheel in the mirror you might miss it (it may be below your vision if you have SUV or have mirrors set bit high). For this reason I have my side mirrors set low, which also aides backing up when parking. It is also important to look at your mirrors correctly. If you look for things moving faster than you, which is most of the time (for example when you are changing lanes or looking for cyclists when turning right) then you need to first look into the rear view mirror and then to side mirror, in that order. I taught myself to scan all mirrors constantly when driving to have a map of all cars and their relative positions and velocities around me. It is tiring at the beginning but it means I am rarely surprised by normally moving cars (ie. not doing any stupid manouvers). It is very helpful when you need to suddenly swerve and you can frequently anticipate problems other drivers have and accommodate.

justapassenger 8y ago

Blind spot can be greatly reduced. Just take a look at convex, wide-angle mirrors that cars have in EU.

jeklj 8y ago

Even if you did make this adjustment, there isn't a good way to know you've done it properly. I just avoid relying only on mirrors. I don't feel safe unless I turn to look.

chooseaname 8y ago

My father taught me this forever ago when I was learning to drive. If this is done correctly, as a vehicle is coming up on, say, the left of you, as it is leaving your rear view mirror, it's entering the side view mirror. It should actually be in BOTH mirrors simultaneously. There's no blind spot.

AngryData 8y ago

This is how you end up thinking you don't have blindspots and end up hitting someone/something. Blind spots need to be checked by turning your head unless you have 4 inch round fisheye mirrors that would fit equally well on a dumptruck or semi-truck. Those little tiny spot mirrors on consumer cars? Those are 4/5 times complete garbage and don't give nearly enough vision. If someone walks behind your car, at no point in time should they disappear without moving your head even for a fraction of a second.

InclinedPlane 8y ago

1. Adjust your side mirrors so they have minimal overlap in coverage, which means you get maximum overall field of view. 2. Check your mirrors routinely (though not constantly, that can be distracting in itself). Stuff doesn't just sneak up on you out of nowhere, unless you aren't paying attention. Cars can't materialize in your blind spot, they have to drive there, and if you're paying attention you'll see them, you'll know where they are even when you can't see them in your mirrors directly. Don't just use your mirrors as a final check as you are changing lanes or making a turn, use them to maintain situational awareness around you. 3. Check your blindspot by turning your head and looking at it with your eyes before you make a lane change or turn. This is your last minute double check that your situational awareness map of what's around you is accurate. If you've been paying attention then this check will almost always be what you expect, but it's still valuable to double check (the belt and suspenders strategy). 4. (actually number zero) STOP FOLLOWING SO CLOSELY. Drive defensively, leave a decent gap ahead of you, don't drive for extended periods of time side by side with other vehicles (especially much bigger ones). This sets you up for success instead of setting you up for failure, it means you have a buffer on your reaction time. If you have an extra second or two of reaction time in addition to your emergency braking distance ahead of you then even if the car ahead of you comes to a dead stop right when you have your head turned for a split second to check your blind spot then you will still be able to come to a stop without hitting them when you bring your head back and react to what's going on, for example. Stack the odds in your favor, not against them. And don't let yourself be ruled by the dumb primitive impulses that tell you driving a car is always a race and you need to "win" and be aggressive and dominate others, etc, it's not any of those things, relax, concentrate on getting where you need to be safely. P.S. Not checking your blind spots by turning your head is illegal in most states.

amatecha 8y ago

Yeah for years I've already done what the link mentions -- basically make the side mirrors point quite some way out. Depending on the vehicle you may have a small "blind spot" still, which is why you _always shoulder check_ before changing lanes or turning!

aidenn0 8y ago

I cannot adjust my mirrors this way in my new car (they do not go sufficiently far "away" from the side of my vehicle). Had I noticed before buying it, I would have not bought it, but I'm stuck with it now.

deathanatos 8y ago

Am I the only one that doesn't find the blind spot to be where this article puts it? (Between the side mirror and the rear mirror's coverage areas.) I can (barely) see the entire side of my car in my side mirror; anything closer to behind me is going to appear in the rear mirror. The part I have trouble with is the other side of the side mirror, that is, the forward part of its coverage. A car can sit forward of what the mirror can see, but not yet in my peripheral vision. So I turn my head when merging, to clear that area. (Perhaps I have my side mirror pointing further "back" than the article?)

arnarbi 8y ago
Yes, the point of the article is to adjust the side mirrors further out in order to shrink the regular blind spot (the same one you are talking about). I disagree with that though, for two reasons: 1. You don't eliminate the blind spot, only shrink it. Depending on your car, the FoV of the mirrors, and the size of the other vehicle, you might still have a large enough blind spot so that your peripheral vision doesn't have it once it leaves the side mirror. 2. It risks creating an even more dangerous blind spot behind you (the one between the mirror views). Maybe not large enough for a car, but definitely for a motorcycle. This one is much harder to catch even if you turn your head. I think every driver should turn their head, always.

11thEarlOfMar 8y ago

I've been aligning my mirrors like this for years. I prefer it because I can see cars in immediate adjacent positions without turning my head. It's particularly helpful in situations where I need to very quickly assess the situation, such as unexpected debris on the road and little time to react. As noted, however, motorcycles can draw up unseen. But more often, when it fails, it's a car two lanes over to my rear that changes lanes towards me at the same time I do. it can go completely unseen. So I always do a head check, time permitting.

Noumenon72 8y ago
Yes. I always turn my head before I switch lanes, but I much more frequently am just aware that I don't need to turn my head because there is someone beside me. And you gain continuous situational awareness that means you pretty much always know which way you can go if you have to. I also have had more surprise cars coming up next to me than motorcycles, because they're so rare and they don't come ut in the winter.

donclark 8y ago

I bought these to try to help lessen the blind spot: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Adjustable-Blind-Spot-Mirror-Wide-Angle-Rear-View-Car-Side-Mirror-with-Adhesive/273433031968?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Adjustable-Blind-Spot-Mirror-Wide-A...

fierybanana 8y ago

Here's a paper going into some technical details of blind spots and how to overcome them: https://doi.org/10.4271/950601 https://doi.org/10.4271/950601 The Geometry of Automotive Rearview Mirrors - Why Blind Zones Exist and Strategies to Overcome Them

tacon 8y ago
Googling that paper turned up an interesting summary of innovations in side mirrors, etc. https://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/are-blind-spots-a-myth/ https://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/are-blind-spots-...

dominotw 8y ago

anyone try the new lcd rearview mirrors. some of them claim no blindspot. https://www.amazon.com/Master-Tailgaters-Mirror-Adjusting-Brightness/dp/B06XHQ1QXX/ https://www.amazon.com/Master-Tailgaters-Mirror-Adjusting-Br...

mstade 8y ago

My driving instructor in Sweden gave me a rhyme to remember. It consisted of only three words: blicken, pilen, filen. It literally translates to: the view, the signal, the lane – in that order. Basically you always look through the mirrors first and take a glance to the side your changing lanes into to cover the blind spot, then if it's safe you turn on the signal, and then you switch lanes. It's not entirely accurate, since you need to keep an eye on things all the time, but it's helped me develop a routine that's pretty much impossible to break these days. It's almost like I scan still hear him, 10+ years later. He was a great instructor.

mlillie 8y ago
US equivalent is SMOG: Signal, Mirrors, Over the shoulder, Go when safe. Not sure whether it is better to signal before or after looking, but that was what my partner's driving instructor taught.
- mstade 8y ago
  The point of looking first, as explained by my instructor, was to not freak out other drivers by signaling first. They might think you're going to suddenly pop out of the lane, spooking them to either speed up or slow down, or perhaps swirving, causing an accident that way. By looking first to make sure things are clear, you mitigate this risk. Of course, in heavy traffic this is still an issue; but heavy traffic typically means lower speeds as well so not necessarily as dangerous. That's the bit that comes with experience I suppose, learning when more attention is necessary.
  - singingboyo 8y ago
    My thought is that signaling before the full check gives the other driver a chance to make sure they're comfortable with and prepared for the change, but obviously you want to know they're there already. I think the missing point in that SMOG acronym is general awareness. I don't know if they teach this, but I won't signal unless I'm already quite sure I'm lined up with a clear space I want to get into. But, once I'm aligned and think I'm good, I'll signal, double check mirrors, shoulder check, and then go. The only new info that gives is the shoulder check, and if you're paying attention a shoulder check should never surprise you. If you need to change lanes within the next 30 seconds, and don't already have general knowledge of the destination lane's status, you've screwed up already. [1] It makes much more sense to consider checking after signaling if it's a double-check, not your first look at what's around you.

seshagiric 8y ago

I like how some new cars automatically switch on side cameras the moment you turn on the indicators. Safety Features like these should be mandatory in all vehicles just like seat belts. On a side note I follow the practice described in the article and found it quite useful.

OxO4 8y ago

Fun fact: European driver-side mirrors actually have a larger FOV than their US counterparts. It took me a while to get used to that when I moved to the US. I ended up buying some small blind spot mirrors that can be stuck onto the car's mirrors. I've been pretty happy with that solution (in combination with looking over my shoulder).

janci 8y ago

The problem with any adjustment is that he car can just pass from one view to another just between you refocus your eyes between them (ie. from rear to side mirror, from side mirror to side window). The solution is panoramatic rear view mirror (you can see thru the rear plus backseat side windows) and side mirrors with curved section that pretty much eliminate the blind spot

danjayh 8y ago
GM has a fantastic camera enhanced rear-view mirror that solves a lot of these blind-spot problems ... http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/general-motors-technology/gm-safety-technology/gm-active-safety-technology/gm-rear-camera-mirror/ http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/general-motors-technology/gm-... Hope it catches on. Can't wait till it's on more makes/models.
- oftenwrong 8y ago
  >Researchers and engineers working on the GM Rear Camera Mirror have been awarded 10 patents – one for the streaming video mirror and nine for video processing. The patents cover innovations in the wide field of view camera image calibration, de-warping, glare reduction and camera hardware design. I assume that this will add some friction to adoption of similar video mirrors by other automakers.

rdiddly 8y ago

If this eliminates the blind spot, what's the white stripe in the 2nd illustration, between the side and rear mirror views? It's the blind spot. And someone on foot, on a bicycle, or on a motorcycle can fit in it. Turn your head, lazy-ass.

huffmsa 8y ago

Exactly how we were taught to set the mirrors in drivers ed. They don't teach it in Wisconsin. Nor do they teach how to use blinkers, or to deal with multiple people coming up to a stop sign controlled intersection. But I digress.

Jagat 8y ago

A blindspot mirror costs $5. I'm really surprised it's not mandated by law in the US.

BXLE_1-1-BitIs1 8y ago

Been doing that for over 20 years.

ssambros 8y ago

People who drove cars in the EU and in the USA: did you ever notice how the blind spot problem almost completely disappears in the EU? That's because US enforces in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #111 [1] that the left side rear view mirror cannot be convex, to aid the detection of the vehicles in the blind spot. I have not yet come up with a good understanding of why that regulation even exists, but personally I feel much safer on the road with the European type rear view mirrors. [1] 49 CFR 571.111 Rear visibility S5.2 Outside rearview mirror - driver's side. S5.2.1 Field of view. Each passenger car shall have an outside mirror of unit magnification [2]. [2] 'Unit magnification' mirror means a plane or flat mirror with a reflective surface through which the angular height and width of the image of an object is equal to the angular height and width of the object when viewed directly at the same distance except for flaws that do not exceed normal manufacturing tolerances.

Hello71 8y ago
it's the same reason that convex mirrors in America must have the text "OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR" engraved. i.e. Americans (think Americans) are stupid.
- ssambros 8y ago
  > it's the same reason that convex mirrors in America must have the text Precisely. S5.4.2 Each convex mirror shall have permanently and indelibly marked at the lower edge of the mirror's reflective surface, in letters not less than 4.8 mm nor more than 6.4 mm high the words “Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear.”

rrock 8y ago

No. A thousand times no. I did this, on the advice of “Click” and “Clack” the CarTalk brothers. Shortly after, I backed into a short concrete pillar and messed up my left rear fender. The pillar was too short to see out of the back window, but I would have seen it if my side mirrors were set correctly as they reach you in school. You have to see where your fenders are going. Imagine if it was a small child back there instead of a pillar.

freetime2 8y ago
Yeah I also worry this advice would make it harder to back up. I drive a large minivan and use my side view mirrors all the time to check if I’m going to hit something when backing up. That would be a lot harder if I were not able to see my own car in the mirror. Although I guess all you would need to do to see your own car in the mirror would be to lean to the side a bit... so maybe not a big deal.

parfamz 8y ago

Is it legal to have European style mirrors in the us? I almost crashed due to the stupid American bathroom mirrors.

Johnny555 8y ago

I rented a car once that had blind spot cameras in the outside rear view mirrors -- when you turn on the turn signal, it displayed the camera's view in the multifunction display in the middle of the dashboard. It had a better field of view than the mirror, and made it very easy to see if there's a bike or pedestrian beside you. Since it was just a rental, out of habit I still turned my head to look, but it seemed like a useful. I think it even flashed and beeped a warning if there was someone in the blind spot, but that may have only worked for cars. I think these systems should be required for trucks and other large vehicles that have a large blind spot. http://www.carblogmy.com/honda-blindspot-display-system/ http://www.carblogmy.com/honda-blindspot-display-system/

sys_64738 8y ago

George McFly's vehicle had a blind spot according to Biff!

erobbins 8y ago

I've almost been hit by so many idiots who don't turn their heads and just trust their stupid mirrors, I want to have 5 minutes alone in a locked room with whoever wrote this article.

blattimwind 8y ago

> must have been in the Insured's blind spot, therefore it was an unavoidable accident No shoulder check => gross negligence => revoke license

null000 8y ago

I've been doing this for years. TBC - it doesn't eliminate the need to check your blind spot anyway (as many have mentioned) - just makes it more likely that you catch something moving unexpectedly into your blind spot, or you catch it before turning to look. Also, the positioning is difficult to get used to, since you kinda have to trust it blindly (you can't get a good idea for where it's positioned based on seeing the side of your car) and then also it's just awful positioning for parking. Not to mention, anyone else using or sharing your car will complain to no end about the weird mirror positions.

wtmt 8y ago

In India, rear view mirrors with a wider view have been available as "clip on" options for a long time. If those are made standard in cars (instead of as addons), the specific "blind spot" problem would instantly disappear. Many of these aren't even highly convex, and so don't create much of a distance perception problem.

jccalhoun 8y ago

I saw this in a magazine years ago and have been doing it ever since. Last semester I was driving university cars a couple days a week and I would sometimes be amazed at how people had the side mirrors set up.

sizzle 8y ago

Lane change assist alerting in modern cars has saved me from hitting cars in my blind spot, this tech makes a beeping alert when you hit the turn signal and a car is in the lane you are signaling towards.

Zelphyr 8y ago

I have a seven year-old Prius and the support columns on the left and right of the windshield are huge. I can't count the number of times I'll be pulling up to a stop sign only to stop and freak out when a pedestrian walks right in front of me. See, they're walking across the cross-walk at a pace that seems to match my slow speed but they're behind that giant support column so I don't see them until I've stopped. Usually, they're freaking out too and mouthing/gesturing bad things at me for not stopping sooner. This, of course, coupled with the fact that they were probably looking at their phone and couldn't hear me because at that speed, the engine has shut off. The instructions in this post are great and I'm going to follow them the next time I get in my car. Still, I hope Toyota and other manufacturers start making pedestrian detection systems and blind spot information systems standard in all vehicles soon.

Lucent 8y ago

I looked at some other "tips" in the folder and found this: http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~gdguo/driving/RoadMarkings.htm http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~gdguo/driving/RoadMarkings.htm which suggests it's OK to turn into any lane, near or far. That's not acceptable in my state. You must turn into the nearest lane.

jimbobimbo 8y ago

I drive cars that get a bad rep for visibility. This is the advice on mirror adjustment I swear by: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15131074/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-avoid-blind-spots/ https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15131074/how-to-adjus...

jve 8y ago

Additional advice: 1. Buy additional spherical mirrors. I bought them for sole reason to see blind spot and they are great. There are oval ones like https://www.amazon.com/Blind-Spot-Mirror-Convex-Mirrors-GUARANTEED/dp/B0093LYB20 https://www.amazon.com/Blind-Spot-Mirror-Convex-Mirrors-GUAR... but I actually found additional small spherical mirrors and added them. They mount on existing mirror. 2. Change lanes slowly so if I didn't notice someone, he can dodge or horn me. Those blind spot indicator ligts surely help on newer cars, but I don't have them. I know that it is possible to buy those too.

pishpash 8y ago

This whole discussion is aggravating. There would be no blind spot if there were two mirrors per side, or those blind spot mirrors, or god forbid, space-remapping cameras or proximity detectors (which now are standard on some cars). It's at the end a cost issue.

realnameme 8y ago

I read this article on Hacker News a while back and it seems on target to give pause for thought. I recommend reading it to understand more about saccades. This phenomenon may also help explain some accidents. Cheers, link next https://www.portsmouthctc.org.uk/a-fighter-pilots-guide-to-surviving-on-the-roads/ https://www.portsmouthctc.org.uk/a-fighter-pilots-guide-to-s...

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]