Do you check your blind spot when driving?

[gris gris]

Help me settle with DH - he insists you should not ever take your eyes off the road in front of you, therefore you just don't check your blind spot. Doing so causes you to take your eyes off the road. Just pay attention to cars near you and use your mirrors.

I always check it.

DH has a clean driving record & I have had 3 accidents

So do you check yours?

 

[drgnfly30]

When switching lanes....Always.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well put it this way--if he hits someone in his blind spot b/c he didn't take his eyes off the road...it would be HIS fault.

I always check mine. All accidents I have had were not my fault and didn't involve a blind spot (bouncing drive shaft on highway that I found when the car in front of me swerved and a hit and run while driving 45mph rear ending).

He's very lucky or must drive in a very traffic friendly place.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

I'm on your side, gris gris.

Yes, I always check it.

 

[gris gris]

He's very lucky or must drive in a very traffic friendly place.

Well he's also one of those drivers that drives the exact speed limit and rarely will pass a car. If the car in front of him is going 10 miles under, so is he.

My 3 accidents all involved backing out of parking areas. I learned my lesson, and pull into a spot so I can drive out

 

[antmaril]

When switching lanes....Always.

Me too - ALWAYS!

 

[cepmom]

well, I just took DD for her road test today and she used her mirrors for doing the 3 point turn instead of looking behind her. The state trooper told her not to rely on just the mirrors, to turn her head and look also. So there you go! You're right and he's not....go ahead and rub it in his face!

 

[Tazicket]

I always check my blind spots when changing lanes. DH got bubble mirrors to put on the side mirrors that are supposed to eliminate blind spots, but I still turn my head and look anyway.

 

[debabe723]

When switching lanes....Always.

I always check too and I am accident free. Now that DS is starting to drive, I realize that's one of the hardest things to do (look over your shoulder w/o turning the steering wheel). Or maybe it's just harder for guys.

Deb

 

[lindakmonty]

I drive a thousand miles a week and if I'm switching lanes... most definitely look in your blind spot!! I can't count how many accidents I WOULD have been in if I had not looked!

 

[crz4mm2]

Always.
Almost had an accident first weekend I had this car. Always check the blind spot now.

 

[ceiligh1]

I always check and no accidents but then my DH checks too and he has had a couple accidents. I think you can keep track of where cars are but they can always move faster than they were and move up on you.

 

[Stacerita]

Always check your blindspot!

I almost got slammed into because some jerk didn't check his today. He came so close to hitting me, that I could have reached over and slapped him.

I always check my blindspot. And I make sure I constantly check my mirrors and such to be aware of whats around me. Taking your eyes off the road to check a blindspot is part of driving.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Turning your head to look doesnt take much longer then a blink. And if you are following so close that you cant spend the half a second to look, then you have other issues!

 

[Clotho]

Turning your head to look doesnt take much longer then a blink. And if you are following so close that you cant spend the half a second to look, then you have other issues!

JUST the point I was going to make!

I ALWAYS check, and every single drivers ed. teacher would say so, too.

It is called a blind spot BECAUSE you cannot SEE if there is a car there using only your mirrors. You are BLIND to any car there if you rely only on your mirrors.

Your hubby is a silly silly boy.

And obviously your accident history has NOTHING to do with it, since your accidents were in parking lots and not due to blind spots.

And I would add that going that far under the speed limit is dangerous as well. Speed limits set up expectations for drivers around you, and not adhering to them is dangerous, both faster and slower!

 

[trip]

From a drivers safety class.

DefensiveDriving

Rule 17: Know Your Blind Spots!

It is important to check your mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds while driving. At the same time, it's not enough just to check the mirrors. If you've been driving long, you already know the blind areas on most vehicles are large enough to hide other vehicles. Mirrors also will not reveal a vehicle that is changing lanes from two lanes away. Example: You are driving in the right hand lane of a multi-lane roadway, and signal to change lanes to the left. Another vehicle in the third lane changes lanes to the right. Both of you may be trying to occupy the same place in the second lane. And it is always possible that a lane that was clear of other traffic just a second ago may quickly be occupied—traffic is often fast-moving and fluid—and empty spaces tend to fill up. It is very important to turn your head and look before making a lane change.


YOU WIN!!!

 

[donnajon]

Doesn't your husband technically have to take his eyes off the roads to check the mirrors? That makes his arguement illogical!

 

[stemikger]

I would be dead if I didn't check my blind spot. There were several times I almost switched lanes thinking I had room, but thank God I remembered to check my blind spot.

 

[Galahad]

When switching lanes....Always.

 

[golfgal]

Sounds like my DH. He never checks his blind spots. He thinks like your DH that you shouldn't turn like that and always comments when I do. I keep telling him the same thing, this is how I was TAUGHT to do it in driver's ed. He is going to cause a big accident some day (we have had many close calls and he STILL doesn't get it). He drives like an old man too. Maybe they had the same drivers ed instructor???