Do you check your blind spot when driving?

[Charade]

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.

That would drive me !!

I don't like being a passenger.

And to answer your question, your DH is wrong. I drive 40,000+ miles a year (have been for the last 25-30) and have learned to always be scanning the road for potential risks. If you have a blind spot, you need to look there occasionally. You may need to adjust your mirrors (or add one of those wide angle ones) to make it easier to do so without turning your head. Some people seem to steer where their head is pointing.

 

[CJBaby]

I try to always be conscious of cars around me. Even with that, there have been times when I glance at my blind spot out of habit and am shocked to find a car there. Because of that, I try to even avoid driving in other people's blind spots when possible.

This also applies to walking in a parking lot. There have been times when someone appears out of nowhere when I'm carefully backing out, and it's a miracle that I missed them. I never assume someone sees me or my dd, even in plain sight!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

When I'm changing lanes I always check my blind spot. There have been times that I almost haven't and there has been someone there--if I hadn't checked I would have been in an accident. My DH will often check, but look just to his left and not turn his head and look back. There's no way that he can see the blind spot the way he's looking (I've tried and can't--the head really has to be turned, especially in our van--bad blind spot).

I also scan the road for risks, pay attention to what's ahead of me, what's on the shoulder of the road, etc. My DH pays attention to what's on the road (anything ahead, etc), but never to anything off the raod. Drives me batty! The other evening there were about half a dozen or more deer just off the road on his side of the car on the little road near our house and he didn't see them. I was amazed. They were right next to the road and he was gaining speed on the 30MPH road. Yep, I need to start taking over more of the driving.

This also applies to walking in a parking lot. There have been times when someone appears out of nowhere when I'm carefully backing out, and it's a miracle that I missed them.

Our new van has a rear view camera that show everything in back of us when we are backing up. I love it and don't like driving our other vehicles. Wish I had a camera that showed the blind spots, too. I've thought about getting the special mirrors since I have some neck problems and it's hard to turn my neck and it's getting harder the older I get.

 

[Christine]

My DD is in driver's ed right now and she just read me a passage out of her manual about the adjustment of all your mirrors. Apparently, there is a "traditional" way (probably the way I do it) and another way which supposedly gets rid of the blind spot.

I set my mirrors that way this morning while we were waiting for the bus. I can't believe that it will actually work.

Her driver's ed teacher told her that she has now gone to using this new "mirror method". She hated it for the first month but now loves it.

 

[cepmom]

My DD is in driver's ed right now and she just read me a passage out of her manual about the adjustment of all your mirrors. Apparently, there is a "traditional" way (probably the way I do it) and another way which supposedly gets rid of the blind spot.

I set my mirrors that way this morning while we were waiting for the bus. I can't believe that it will actually work.

Her driver's ed teacher told her that she has now gone to using this new "mirror method". She hated it for the first month but now loves it.

what is this new method?? I have never been able to get the hang of using the mirrors properly. I'm not even sure how they should be positioned the "traditional way" so I don't use them very often and never rely on them for switching lanes. When Dh had an econoline van with no back windows, I could never back that thing up!

 

[Christine]

what is this new method?? I have never been able to get the hang of using the mirrors properly. I'm not even sure how they should be positioned the "traditional way" so I don't use them very often and never rely on them for switching lanes. When Dh had an econoline van with no back windows, I could never back that thing up!

Well, I think the traditional way is that you sit in the car and adjust the mirrors so that you can feel like you can see well. Very technical, huh?

The driver's ed book describes it this way (I don't have the book with me so I'm going on memory).

1. Adjust your inside rear view mirror so that it "frames" your back window.

2. To adjust the left mirror: Sit in drivers seat and lean towards the left window and look out the window into the mirror. Adjust your mirror outwards so that you can barely see the side of the vehicle in the mirror.

3. To adjust the right mirror: Sit in the drivers seat and lean toward the right over the center console. Look out the window into the mirror and adjust the mirror so that you can barely see the side of the vehicle in the mirror.

This is called something like the "15 degree method" and the theory is that with the mirrors positioned in this way, they can all work in conjunction and avoid the blind spot. I'm skeptical.

 

[cepmom]

hmm. I'll try it today and see. Thanks!

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Blind spot checker here.

 

[ead79]

Yes, I check my blind spot. I have avoided many accidents by checking it. Plus, your eyes aren't off the road for very long. In Atlanta traffic you've got to check blind spots as well as pay close attention to where the other cars are around you. People often jerk over into other lanes to try to beat the traffic (like that works, LOL!).

 

[ChrizJen]

You should always check your blind spot before changing lanes!

 

[cardaway]

The only time I didn't is the only time I've hit anybody. Not my fault as somebody was squeezing their car to the left of me when they shoudln't have, but if I had looked, I wouldn't have had damaged my car.

 

[Chicago526]

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?

When changing lanes? Every stinkin' time!!! I've saved my self from hitting or cutting off other drivers a couple times that way. I try to keep track of traffic in my side mirrors, but sometimes other cars sneak into that blind spot without my noticing.

 

[snowy76]

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.

Amen!

 

[MB MinnieGirl]

Check and double check. The only accident I was ever in was when I did NOT check it shortly after I got my license. I learned my lesson well!

Kelly