Originally Posted by Intrepid175,Jun 2 2006, 03:57 PM

You have no blind spot? No offense intended but if you honestly believe that, you're deluding yourself.

I've watch people leaning forward in their car while staring intently into the side mirror, trying to spot traffic on the freeway they're trying to merge into. The look on their face was priceless when they finally caught me in their periferal vision. They didn't see me in the mirror, they saw me because their face was turned generally toward me and it was alarming how close they got before they figured it out. The people who just sit back normally and look at the mirror miss a LOT.

Mirrors are wonderful and are important but under the right circumstances, there's a LOT they don't show you. Use them, but also take a direct look. Only that way can you be certain that you've cleared the area you want to merge into.


That's a fine argument but it's one that, IMO, doesn't hold water. If you're so close to the car in front of you that you can't spare a quick glance to the side, that's all it takes, then you're probably too close to begin with.

FWIW!
Drive Safe,
Steve R.

Originally Posted by mikegarrison,Jun 3 2006, 01:35 AM

I agree.

In the lane next to me, I can see a car in my rearview if it far enough back. Just as it gets close enough to start disappearing out of my rearview, it becomes visible in my sideview. Just as it starts to disappear from my sideview, I can see it through my window.

When I'm checking the lane next to me, I only turn my head about 20 degrees. I can still see in front of me and I can check the lane.

Unfortunately, a motorcycle is small enough that it could be hiding in the space where a car could not. So I keep pretty close track on bikes that are around me.

I really would NOT want the mirror to be sweeping around on its own. I can get the same effect just by moving my head further from or closer to the window, even when I am still looking in front of me.