How to set your mirrors for no blind spot.
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From: behind you... BOO!
Originally Posted by golfpro,Mar 3 2006, 09:47 AM
Most of us probably have been used to setting our mirrors so we can just see the left and right quarter panels of our car with a glance in the rear view mirror.
I have always set my mirrors so that I cannot see my car, if I can, that means the mirror isn't pointed outwards enough.
In addition to the method you're describing, here's another way to achieve the result (or check your resulst).
Stop beside an object, preferable another car. You will be able to see the object with your periferal vision.
Advance your car forward. The object will gradually leave your periferal vision and as it does, it should appear in your side mirror. There should be no point in time when you can't see the object with either your periferal vision or by glancing into your side mirror. If the object disappears, that means you have a blindspot. You should readjust the mirror to "pick up" the object earlier before it disapears from your periferal.
Once you're satisfied with the periferal to side mirror transfer of the immage, proceed to advance your car forward again. This time as the object is disapearing from your side mirror, it should appear in your rearview mirror. Again, tweak the mirrors if you need to.
If you can't completely elliminate the blind spots (as that might depend on your body size and sitting position) at the very least you can know for certain where your now minimized blind spot is. As you drive you should be constantly checking all mirrors to be aware of the traffic around you. That way you should instinctively know if there might be a car in your blind spot. If you're ever unsure, you can adjust your speed and the other car should emerge out of your blind spot.
You should always do your best to keep cars out of your blind spots as well as ensure you're not hanging out in some one else's bling spot.
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From: Upstate NY
Originally Posted by BlackieZ,Mar 3 2006, 11:40 AM
No. That's how you get the blind spots in the first place. You're not using your mirror to it's full potential when a part of its view is your own car. I mean honestly, what for, it's not like the side of your car is gonna take off on you and you have to keep a constant watch on it!
I have always set my mirrors so that I cannot see my car, if I can, that means the mirror isn't pointed outwards enough.
In addition to the method you're describing, here's another way to achieve the result (or check your resulst).
Stop beside an object, preferable another car. You will be able to see the object with your periferal vision.
Advance your car forward. The object will gradually leave your periferal vision and as it does, it should appear in your side mirror. There should be no point in time when you can't see the object with either your periferal vision or by glancing into your side mirror. If the object disappears, that means you have a blindspot. You should readjust the mirror to "pick up" the object earlier before it disapears from your periferal.
Once you're satisfied with the periferal to side mirror transfer of the immage, proceed to advance your car forward again. This time as the object is disapearing from your side mirror, it should appear in your rearview mirror. Again, tweak the mirrors if you need to.
If you can't completely elliminate the blind spots (as that might depend on your body size and sitting position) at the very least you can know for certain where your now minimized blind spot is. As you drive you should be constantly checking all mirrors to be aware of the traffic around you. That way you should instinctively know if there might be a car in your blind spot. If you're ever unsure, you can adjust your speed and the other car should emerge out of your blind spot.
You should always do your best to keep cars out of your blind spots as well as ensure you're not hanging out in some one else's bling spot.
I have always set my mirrors so that I cannot see my car, if I can, that means the mirror isn't pointed outwards enough.
In addition to the method you're describing, here's another way to achieve the result (or check your resulst).
Stop beside an object, preferable another car. You will be able to see the object with your periferal vision.
Advance your car forward. The object will gradually leave your periferal vision and as it does, it should appear in your side mirror. There should be no point in time when you can't see the object with either your periferal vision or by glancing into your side mirror. If the object disappears, that means you have a blindspot. You should readjust the mirror to "pick up" the object earlier before it disapears from your periferal.
Once you're satisfied with the periferal to side mirror transfer of the immage, proceed to advance your car forward again. This time as the object is disapearing from your side mirror, it should appear in your rearview mirror. Again, tweak the mirrors if you need to.
If you can't completely elliminate the blind spots (as that might depend on your body size and sitting position) at the very least you can know for certain where your now minimized blind spot is. As you drive you should be constantly checking all mirrors to be aware of the traffic around you. That way you should instinctively know if there might be a car in your blind spot. If you're ever unsure, you can adjust your speed and the other car should emerge out of your blind spot.
You should always do your best to keep cars out of your blind spots as well as ensure you're not hanging out in some one else's bling spot.
This is how I've been setting up my mirrors for years. I've had a very hard time convincing others that this is the way to do it. Set up properly, no car should ever have a blind spot. My pickup has a contractor's cap with no side windows and I have 100% confindence changing lanes and backing up using only the mirrors. There is no need for convex mirrors. I do not have any blind spots in the S2000 with this set up either.
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From: Pembroke
I don't know why people set their mirrors so they can see the side of the car. Its useless that way....
Your mirrors are supposed to be set, so that an approaching car transitions from your rear view, to your side view, to your peripheral vision as it passes you.
While the original post is good advise, its pretty common knowlege. Almost like - if your car has ABS, here's a tip. If the ABS kicks in, your pedal vibrates - just keep pushing the brake and you'll stop.
One peeve of mine is that the driver's mirror doesn't go far enough outward, but I guess that's what the convexs are for.
Your mirrors are supposed to be set, so that an approaching car transitions from your rear view, to your side view, to your peripheral vision as it passes you.
While the original post is good advise, its pretty common knowlege. Almost like - if your car has ABS, here's a tip. If the ABS kicks in, your pedal vibrates - just keep pushing the brake and you'll stop.
One peeve of mine is that the driver's mirror doesn't go far enough outward, but I guess that's what the convexs are for.
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Blackie is "smarter than your average bear"! 
As a final note: As we become of society of people in a hurry, we tend to take short cuts in everything we do. Let's not forget the "shoulder check". It'll be your final "save your butt" action in those rare occasions when something will sneak up and bite it off.
As a final note: As we become of society of people in a hurry, we tend to take short cuts in everything we do. Let's not forget the "shoulder check". It'll be your final "save your butt" action in those rare occasions when something will sneak up and bite it off.
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I think golfpro has some good advice on a different method for setting up your mirrors. It might be better for some than others.
I don't know if it's just me, but I always have a subconcious knowledge of where every car on the road is. That way, I only have to glance in my rear-view mirror, and if he's not there I check my side mirrors. If he's not in my side view mirror then I just lean forward a bit and look directly out my window. And if I still don't know where he is I slowly start to change lanes and if I hear "BEEEEP BEEEEEEEEEEPPPP" Then I found him!
I don't know if it's just me, but I always have a subconcious knowledge of where every car on the road is. That way, I only have to glance in my rear-view mirror, and if he's not there I check my side mirrors. If he's not in my side view mirror then I just lean forward a bit and look directly out my window. And if I still don't know where he is I slowly start to change lanes and if I hear "BEEEEP BEEEEEEEEEEPPPP" Then I found him!