| Most driving schools spend very little time on teaching | | | | most drivers were never taught, as part of their |
| proper mirror adjustment as part of their driver's ed | | | | driver's education, that blind spots are not necessary. |
| program. And yes, it's important enough to understand | | | | As a matter of fact, with a small amount of driving |
| a concept like mirror adjustment that its worth reading | | | | lesson instruction, these blind spots can be virtually |
| a short article like this on the topic. | | | | "tuned-out". |
| First off, lets talk about "rear view mirror history". A little | | | | Ok, so here's the secret to "blind spot free" driving that |
| known fact is that the use of rear view mirrors in the | | | | is taught by some driving schools in 3 simple steps: |
| automobile was ushered in via auto racing in the early | | | | |
| 20th century. The rear view mirror was invented by | | | | 1. Get in the driver's seat, adjust position, etc. |
| Ray Harroun, who also won the first race at the | | | | 2. Tilt your head to the left as far as you can and |
| Indianapolis Speedway in 1911. The real driving force, so | | | | adjust your left mirror to just see a small "sliver" of the |
| to speak, behind the rear view mirror was to eliminate | | | | side of your car |
| a second person who acted as an observer and the | | | | 3. Tilt your head to the right as far as you can and |
| resulting weight reduction became a large benefit in a | | | | adjust your right mirror to just see a small "sliver" of |
| race. | | | | the right side of the car |
| Over history, driver's education has at best given lip | | | | Then move your head to the normal, center position |
| service to mirror adjustment and proper use. Modern | | | | and you notice that you cannot see either side of your |
| driving schools will actually instruct their students how | | | | car anymore. Don't worry - your mirror wasn't stolen |
| to properly adjust their mirrors. And then once they are | | | | nor did it decide to run off into the sunset. You will now |
| properly setup, part of the driver training process is to | | | | be able to see cars as they enter and exit around |
| continually drill students on proper mirror use in | | | | your vehicle leaving virtually no blind spot. |
| conjunction with turning, lane changes, etc. | | | | As mentioned, modern high quality driving schools |
| For those experienced drivers, how many of us have | | | | teach this as well as many other techniques that have |
| started to make a lane change and then realized that | | | | been developed as tools for novice drivers. The sad |
| there was indeed another car in a blind spot? I know I | | | | part is that driver training, in general, has not evolved |
| have - at least prior to being trained to correctly use | | | | over time and it is a rare school that actually teaches |
| mirrors at SWERVE Driving School. It is interesting that | | | | their students to be great drivers. |