Defensive Driving—Mirrors

Knowing how to set outside mirrors to eliminate blind spots is a crucial part of being a defensive driver. It is fundamental to your defensive driving techniques as well as your overall safety. While almost all vehicles come equipped with two outside mirrors, many drivers don’t set them properly, making the vehicle as dangerous as it would be if it were missing them.

Positioning Your Mirrors

The following procedures for correctly positioning mirrors will help you eliminate blind spots and avoid potential vehicle accidents.

To start, park your vehicle and place your head against the driver’s side window as pictured. Set the mirror so you can just see the side of the car. For the passenger’s side mirror, position your head at the middle of the vehicle. Again, set the mirror so you can just see the side of the car.

Checking Your Blind Spot

This method should ensure that the mirrors are positioned outward enough to eliminate blind spots, but you should also double-check to be 100 percent sure. To do this, sit in a normal driving position and watch the mirrors as a vehicle passes by.

It should appear in the outside mirror before it leaves the inside mirror. And it should appear in your peripheral vision before leaving the outside mirror.

Changing Lanes

When changing lanes, experts suggest looking first to the inside mirror for vehicles approaching from behind. Next, glance at the outside mirror to see if a vehicle is in the blind spot. If you see the entire front of a vehicle in the inside mirror and no vehicles in the outside mirror, it should be safe to change lanes. Do not change lanes if the vehicle approaching from behind is closing in quickly.

A good practice to get into is turning your head over the appropriate shoulder to double-check the blind spot prior to changing lanes. And always indicate to the other drivers your intention of changing lanes or turning by using your directional signals.  

Mirrors in Defensive Driving Mirrors are a key safety component to becoming a defensive driver. In order to be aware of the traffic around you and anticipate hazardous situations, you should continually scan the road and always use your mirrors.