Whether you’re a student driver and want to brush up on your understanding, or awaiting driving lessons and want to get ahead, this guide will inform you of everything you need to understand about changing your car mirrors for maximum visibility.
At Intensive Driving School, we assist thousands of individuals to learn to drive every year. The basics are where we all start. So in this series, we’re covering everything your trainer will teach you in your first couple of lessons.
In this guide, we’re going to concentrate on how to adjust your car mirrors to permit optimum exposure. But first of all, you require to make sure you have actually set up your car seat and arranged your wheel into an appropriate position. When this is finished, you’re ready to change your car mirrors.
Having appropriately changed mirrors for your height and seating position is paramount for you and your passenger’s security. Every time you change your seating position, you will need to readjust your mirrors to guarantee you have optimal exposure to everything that is going on around you.
Changing your car mirrors becomes part of the cockpit drill, and your driving trainer will teach you how to do this throughout within your first few driving lessons as a beginner.
Changing the rear-view mirror
The rear-view mirror is installed onto the upper part of the windscreen, and exists to provide you a clear view of what’s happening behind you.
Ensure you’re sitting in your regular driving position, as leaning to adjust the mirror won’t offer you with the best presence of the road behind you.
Adjust the mirror until you can see the entire rear window with a minimal amount of the interior of the car.
Attempt not to touch the glass when adjusting your mirror as this can leave finger prints and prevent your view of the roadway behind you
Changing the side mirrors
Side mirrors, likewise known as wing mirrors, are placed on the outside of the vehicle. These are curved mirrors that offer a large seeing angle of each side of your vehicle.
Depending upon the make and age of your vehicle, there are two various types of controls for adjusting your side mirrors.
Electric Controls – Many modern cars have electrical controls, which allow you to adjust your car’s side mirrors with basic buttons.
Manual controls – Older cars often come with a joystick or lever that you manually manage, or you may need to physically move the mirrors themselves.
Right side mirror
When adjusting the right side mirror, you ought to be in the driver’s seat in an appropriate driving position.
You want to change your mirror so that you can just see a small section of the car, however, have a clear view of the road and traffic behind you.
For the mirror angle, the horizon should remain in the centre. The horizon is the more point that you can see, where the far-off road vanishes.
Adjusting your best side mirror to the appropriate position is crucial, as you count on this mirror particularly for moving off, overtaking and signing up with dual-carriageways or freeways.
Left side mirror
Make certain you’re being in the driver’s seat, in the right driving position. If you have manual mirror controls, it might be more difficult to change the left side mirror. Attempt moving the mirror a little at a time up until you get the appropriate position, or you can constantly ask the individual sitting in the passengers seat to assist you.
Similar to the right side mirror, you want to change the left side mirror until you see just part of the car, and a great view of the road behind you.
The difference with the left mirror is that you desire it angled somewhat lower. This will give you a much better view of the kerb when pulling over or making a manoeuvre.
Make sure your mirror is at a height that you can still see the end of the roadway behind you.
What is a blind spot?
Blind spots are the locations around your car that aren’t noticeable through your windscreen or car mirrors. Depending upon your vehicle, you might have a smaller-sized or larger blind spot.
It is essential that you do not entirely count on your mirrors when driving. When completing manoeuvres, altering lanes or turning, you need to always look over your shoulder to check if it is safe to do so.
What else do you need to consider when adjusting your car mirrors?
If at any point when driving, you choose your mirrors have not been adjusted correctly, make sure to pull over in a safe and legal position before appropriately changing them. You must not change your car mirror whilst driving, as this can jeopardize security.
If you’re driving somebody else’s car, it is essential that you correctly change the mirrors to match you as the driver, even if you’re driving for simply a short distance.
You should check your mirrors are gotten used to the correct position each time you set off to drive or alter your seating position. Doing this will guarantee that you have a clear view of the roadway around you.
Intensive Driving School helps you with the fundamentals
Here at Intensive Driving School, we help thousands of people of a range of ages to learn how to drive. Whether you’re intending to learn in a manual or automatic car, our instructors are here to take the stress away from that.
Your driving trainer will teach you whatever you require to understand, including how to start a car, move off and stop, and what gears are and when to alter them.
