BLIND SPOTS GO AWAY
WRECK-LESS DRIVING ©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist
BLIND SPOTS GO AWAY
FLINT, MI.: E-mail from heavyfoot@?.org: "Last week you said that side mirrors can be adjusted to minimize the blind-spots. Tell us how."
First let me say that the blind-spots cannot be eliminated totally with the currently known mirror systems. When you believe that you have reached that perfection have someone walk slowly around your vehicle and be certain you can see at least a portion of her at all times. It is important that we minimize the blind-spots as 13 to 15 percent of all collisions can be traced to not being able to see the rear approaching vehicle.
For now, though, the auto safety experts suggest this almost perfect setting: Assume your natural driving position, lean your upper body left to almost touch the window, adjust the driver side mirror so that you can just barely see the side of your vehicle. Then lean right into the center of the auto and adjust the passenger side mirror likewise. Now when you are on the highway you should see an approaching vehicle in the rearview mirror until a portion of it appears in the side mirror. Before it leaves your side mirror entirely you should see a portion of it in the corner of your eyes. Thus you have eliminated most of the blind spot for ordinary sized road vehicles. This does not however work for small objects such as pedestrians. or cyclists.
All these years we have been accustomed to using the side-mirrors as additional rearview mirrors. But that is not their function. It will take a few miles to get used to the new mirror settings. Once you do you will not want to go back.
While getting used to this setting be extra careful as you will be putting more attention on proving to yourself that it really works than you will on being fully aware of what is in front of your moving vehicle. This mirror setting also keeps the headlights of cars behind yours from bouncing into your eyes.
Remember that however the mirrors are set, before changing lanes turn your head (and shoulder if necessary) to be more certain about the safety of that move.
GHD88 all rights reserved. wellnessebooks.com/ebookstore.asp
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist
BLIND SPOTS GO AWAY
FLINT, MI.: E-mail from heavyfoot@?.org: "Last week you said that side mirrors can be adjusted to minimize the blind-spots. Tell us how."
First let me say that the blind-spots cannot be eliminated totally with the currently known mirror systems. When you believe that you have reached that perfection have someone walk slowly around your vehicle and be certain you can see at least a portion of her at all times. It is important that we minimize the blind-spots as 13 to 15 percent of all collisions can be traced to not being able to see the rear approaching vehicle.
For now, though, the auto safety experts suggest this almost perfect setting: Assume your natural driving position, lean your upper body left to almost touch the window, adjust the driver side mirror so that you can just barely see the side of your vehicle. Then lean right into the center of the auto and adjust the passenger side mirror likewise. Now when you are on the highway you should see an approaching vehicle in the rearview mirror until a portion of it appears in the side mirror. Before it leaves your side mirror entirely you should see a portion of it in the corner of your eyes. Thus you have eliminated most of the blind spot for ordinary sized road vehicles. This does not however work for small objects such as pedestrians. or cyclists.
All these years we have been accustomed to using the side-mirrors as additional rearview mirrors. But that is not their function. It will take a few miles to get used to the new mirror settings. Once you do you will not want to go back.
While getting used to this setting be extra careful as you will be putting more attention on proving to yourself that it really works than you will on being fully aware of what is in front of your moving vehicle. This mirror setting also keeps the headlights of cars behind yours from bouncing into your eyes.
Remember that however the mirrors are set, before changing lanes turn your head (and shoulder if necessary) to be more certain about the safety of that move.
GHD88 all rights reserved. wellnessebooks.com/ebookstore.asp
posted by WRECK-LESS at Saturday, October 08, 2005
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