About those Rearviews.
I’ve been picking up on a few articles recently, about Rearview mirrors – and how to adjust them. Hmmm! Gotta’ admit, I didn’t know this was a problem!
Driverthink has often talked about the benefits of occasionally using these cute little devices in order to see what’s behind you. If something’s going to hit you, it will often be coming from behind you, and the sooner you see it coming, the more time to have to either attempt evasive action, or panic.
Rearviews can also keep you alive when changing lanes on the highway. They can keep you from cutting someone off and perhaps, suffering the inconvenient consequences. Road Rage, Body by Crunch. A Maserati stuffed up your tailpipe. Stuff like that.
It stands to reason then, that if your rearview mirrors are not properly adjusted, you can easily miss all this good stuff going on behind you, but apparently, not everyone has the same idea as to how these most important little pieces of glass – should be adjusted. So let’s Driverthink about it.
The basic concept of Rearview Mirrors is to provide you with as wide and deep a field of vision as is possible. The more you see - the better driver you be.
The Center Rearview usually hangs from somewhere near the top center of your windshield. It’s pretty basic. It is primarily designed to provide a view through the rear windshield of the vehicle, and should reflect the goings on directly behind you. It’s probably not going to do this if it’s focused to the side, if it’s blocked by holiday packages, or if it’s reflecting a panoramic view of your ceiling panel.
The Center Rearview can also be adjusted for putting on makeup, shaving, or combing ones
hair - but this is preferably done at a dead stop with no other traffic in sight. The device should then be readjusted for actual motoring sport.
hair - but this is preferably done at a dead stop with no other traffic in sight. The device should then be readjusted for actual motoring sport.
Problems seem to develop, though, over the adjustment of the side view mirrors. These are the little puppies that protrude from either side of the vehicle and for Driverthink “side” is the operative word. Since we already have that Center Mirror looking directly behind us, we would probably want to adjust the Side-Views so that we can see what’s going on in the Side Lanes behind us.
Okay then. Let’s try adjusting those Side Mirrors. First, we’re going to plop ourselves into the cockpit. To adjust the left side mirror, first adjust it so that it barely shows the side of your vehicle. Some would suggest leaning your head against the driver door window when you do this. I personally have never found this necessary but if it works for some, so be it. Next, do the same with the passenger side mirror. Finally, center the mirrors up or down.
We now have pretty good view - not only behind us (the Center Mirror), but also of the lanes on each side of us. So let’s boogie on with a few more tips.
First, we want to do this adjusting stuff before we venture out – not at seventy on the highway. Once we have the basic adjustment though, we may want to tweak it out while on the road. A good way to do this is when we’re stopped at a light, with traffic lined up on both sides of us.
If, after the tweaking, you’ve got a car on your side that you still can’t see through either the center or side view mirror, then you have what is commonly called, a “Blind Spot”. But now you’re aware of it. Depending on the design of your ride, you may find you do in fact, have a permanent blind spot. There are basically four ways to handle this devious, not so little problem.
First you can trade in your vehicle for one with no blind spot. A blind spot is definitely something I check for when test driving a vehicle – along with important stuff, like cupholders.
You can also learn to twist your neck and look back directly at the blind spot. This of course, does momentarily deprive you of your forward vision, so it’s usually a solution of last resort.
Another simple trick, which you can also acquire at the stop light, is to move your head to the left or right while checking your Side-Views. This will usually pick up the stealthy little villain. You can do it quickly and easily with a little practice.
Finally, if you drive a Sport Ute or Pickup truck, you can steal a trick from the big guys. Most auto stores sell little round, optical mirrors for about five bucks. Paste them on your Side-views and they’ll give you a panoramic view.
Ahhh, the Rearviews. They’re a beautiful thing – when they’re properly adjusted.
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Posted by Frank Miller at 11/27/2007 6:26 PM 
Categories: Driving Experience, Know your Machine, Driving Skills
Categories: Driving Experience, Know your Machine, Driving Skills
You got a really useful blog I have been here reading for about an hour.
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Nice article now I want to weekly view to your article
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great post
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