 |  | | | Most people don't think twice about adjusting their car's mirrors. If a cursory glance confirms rearward and peripheral vision, the average driver just shifts into gear and goes. However, taking a few seconds to verify that the mirrors are adjusted for optimal visibility makes the driving experience safer.
Rearview Mirrors | Back To Top
Since these visibility aids sometimes double as vanity mirrors for applying makeup and checking double-Windsor-knot details, they're the most likely to be out of adjustment. Luckily, rearview mirrors are also the easiest to restore for proper perspective. No science here: simply move the mirror to the position that provides the most complete field of vision.
Side Mirrors | Back To Top
Proper side-mirror orientation is a little more involved than adjusting the rearview mirror. The goal here is to be able to see the blind spots surrounding the vehicle's hind quarters as clearly as possible. Side-view mirrors are vital for safe lane-changes.
Most drivers don't get the maximum field of vision from their side mirrors, though. The common mistake is adjusting the side mirrors inward until the vehicle is partially visible. This effectively limits the viewing range: The focus is drawn to the rear of the car, areas that are likely already covered by the rearview mirror. The blind spots move forward to directly alongside the car, where motorcycles and even cars can be obscured at first glance.
For the best possible view, flare the side-view mirrors outward until your car is barely out of sight. This can create a slight blind spot at the rear, but the gains in peripheral vision outweigh the compromise. The rearview mirror should now supply a rearward and some side-to-side views while the side mirrors cover rearward and peripheral landscapes. A quick glance over the shoulder provides additional blind-spot assurance.
Future Mirrors | Back To Top
Eliminating blind spots altogether and improving overall field of vision are design priorities in the cars of tomorrow. Large buses and motorhomes currently accomplish this with rearview cameras that show images of the blind spots on a dash-mounted monitor. This concept is being applied to passenger vehicles. The 2003 Ford Taurus Telematics and Safety Concept Car features an example of this technology. On this vehicle, the side mirrors are equipped with inexpensive low-light color cameras—both front and rear cameras are mounted in the mirrors' housings. The forward-facing cameras provide views around wide trucks and SUVs and enhance the ability to see pedestrians and bicycles. The rear cameras show the blind spots for safer lane changes.
Until this projection technology is standard on all cars, properly adjusted mirrors provide the best visibility while driving. Spending a few seconds to check and adjust rearview and side mirrors makes for safer merging, passing and lane changing.
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