Proper Way Of Adjusting Mirrors

Proper way of adjusting mirrors

The first step in driving safely is to adjust your seats, steering wheels and mirrors before you go anywhere. Unfortunately, many people adjust their rearview mirrors improperly, making them less safe. The goal is to expand your field of vision to the widest possible view while reducing the size of your blind spots. You can do so by adjusting the interior rearview mirror and then aligning the exterior rearview---or sideview---mirrors accordingly.

Manual

1.      Side mirrors

Move the leve3r control to adjust your mirror to either or right, up or down.

2.      Rearview mirror

:Flip the tab on the bottom edge of the mirror to select the day or right adjustment.

daytime driving(normal).

:Used for right driving, to reduce the glare from the headlights of the vehicle behind you.

      

      3.Side mirrors 

            :Turn the ignition switch “ON”

            : move the selector switch edge of the adjustment switch to move the mirror right or left, up or down

:when you finish adjusting switch. Remove the selector switch to the center (off) positive. The turns off the adjustment switch so you do not move  a mirror out of the position by accidentally touching the switch.

NOTE: when adjusting the side mirrors. The view should be 10% to the body of  the vehicle and 90%  outside..

Interior Mirror

After you have found your safest, most comfortable driving position, it's time to set your interior rearview mirror. This step, according to Smart Motorist, is the fairly obvious part: You should adjust the mirror so you can see out the rear window. You should see all four corners of the rear window without turning your head from the driving position. This ensures that you will get the broadest possible view of the road behind you.

Exterior Mirrors

Next, it's time to align the exterior mirrors. Many drivers mistakenly align these "sideview" mirrors so they can see the side of the car. This creates an overlap between the interior and exterior mirrors, which increases the blind spot on either side. Moving the exterior mirrors farther outward will minimize your blind spots and increase your field of vision

The experts from NPR's "Car Talk" recommend leaning your head against the driver's side window and then adjusting the left sideview mirror so you can only see the back corner of the car you're driving. Next, lean your head toward the passenger side, stopping at about the centerline, and adjust the right exterior mirror the same way.

You may still need to make minor adjustments to the exterior mirrors. You will know your mirrors are adjusted correctly if a passing car's front headlight moves seamlessly from your interior mirror to one of your exterior mirrors. This means the blind spot on that side of the vehicle has been nearly eliminated.

 You've been driving for many years. You know how to adjust your mirrors. Who do I take you for, some idiot?

Yes.

Ok, so you may not be an idiot, but chances are, you don't have your side mirrors adjusted properly.

Lets take a look. Sitting in the driver's seat, looking at my passenger side mirror, this is what I see:





This is probably close to what you see/how you have your mirrors adjusted. About 1/3rd of the mirror looks down the side of the car, the other 2/3rds shows you what is beside you.

Now, lets take a look in your rear-view mirror:




Finally, lets take a look out your side window:




What's wrong with this picture? Let me show you.




Take a look at the pink squares. What your side mirrors is showing you is NOT what's beside you - it's what's behind you! It's information that is COMPLETELY DUPLICATED by your rear view mirror!

How to adjust your mirrors PROPERLY

To adjust your mirrors properly, put your head against the left side door glass, then adjust your left mirror OUT until you just barely can (or barely can not) see the side of your car. THEN, move your head to the center of your car and adjust your right mirror out until you can barely (or barely can not) see the side of your car. The goal is to set it up so that once a car leaves your REAR view mirror, it appears in your SIDE view mirror - and once it leaves your SIDE view mirror, it appears in your side window/peripheral vision. Unfortunately, some American cars don't let you adjust the mirrors out far enough to completely accomplish this. I recommend experimenting in a parking lot until you get the ideal angle.

Lets take a look at the results of adjusting the right mirror correctly:




A car! This car was completely invisible to me prior, unless I looked over my shoulder and through the rear quarter window. In Fara's Honda S2000 with the top up, this car would have been completely invisible.

Now, to further illistrate my point, I will drive forwards about 10 feet until the car appears in my rear view mirror:




Here, you'll see that it's visible from approximately the rear of the car to the front of the front doors. Now, lets take a look in my side mirror:




Here, you can see the entire front of the car, including down most of the quarter panel. Essentially, very little (to no) part of the car is invisible.

Now, I will drive backwards 20 feet (10 feet behind my original position) and take a look in my side mirror:




Here, the rear 1/3rd of the car is visible. When you look out the side window, this is what you see:




You can see the car. At this point it will be visible in your peripheral vision without even turning your head.

With mirrors in their new position, you have to turn your head less and you can see more while essentially eliminating your blind spots. It does take some getting used to - but give it a shot!