how to change lanes using mirrors only.
v.redd.it/ne00ficbdpn91
v.redd.itPosted Sep 13, 2022, 10:31 PM UTC
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v.redd.itProtip - if your mirrors are adjusted properly you should have no blind spots.
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I used to write the same often until I moved to Canada. No, the mirrors in North America are nothing like in Europe. Even if you have a very rare car with convex mirrors, it still has way flatter curvature.
The video is definitely not from US/Canada (due to the form of plates) but majority of redditors are
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I live in the US. If your mirrors are adjusted properly just as the car leaves your mirror the front end should just be coming up beside you. Additionally, my state has changed the driver training manual. If you lean forward a bit and then look into the mirror the view extends into the blind spot.
I'm sure most people don't have their mirror adjusted to that level of precision. I accidentally cut someone off years ago (no accident) but I figured out exactly how to adjust the mirror so it doesn't happen again.
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So true. Most people feel a need to see the side of their car at the inside edge of the side mirrors. That's what creates the blind spot.
Tilt your head to the left so you're almost touching the window. Then set the left mirror so you can just see the side of your car at the mirror's inner edge. When you move your head back the mirror will be pretty close to eliminating that blind spot. Lean a similar amount to the right to set the right mirror.
When set right, you should see the front of a car approaching on either side in the center rearview mirror. As it gets closer and moves out of view of the center mirror you should see it start to appear in the side mirror. As it leaves the side mirror you should be able to pick it up in your peripheral vision or with just a slight turn of your head. No blind spot.
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And all that would be not needed if US adopted what is a norm in EU for decades. No, every new car is now equipped with blind spot monitors even though much more simple solution is there that doesn't require you to tilt, move or shoulder check in most cases
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Part of the point of European (and AU/NZ) style aspheric mirrors is that it’s impossible to misadjust most of them badly enough to have any blind spot at all. Different adjustments may make things a bit clearer, but virtually any setting will cover the entire visual field from the edge of the car through the next lane.
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Mirrors in NA are sufficient to have a good coverage when properly adjusted.
He did not use mirrors... or his mirrors are adjusted to show his back doors/trunk aka 'parking mirrors' - I see this stupidity all the time.
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He is not in NA though. Plates form and mercedes station wagon are two give aways.
Mirrors may be sufficient on some cars, but that’s definitely not the case on Chevy Malibu, Ford Escape and Toyota Camry with Chevy being the worst from my own experience.
If you ever drove a reasonably modern car in Europe you would have felt the difference.
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If you are talking about 'zoomed' mirrors - it doesn't matter, both can be adjusted for better and worse viewing. There are advantages to both.
The 'zoomed' mirror helps better (earlier) identify faster traffic in the next lane for a safer lane change for example.
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If you adjust then properly you won't have blindspots, regardless of the country or planet you're driving in.
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You will always have blind spots on your left side without curvature, it's a basic geometry. If you move a mirror further to the left, then you have a blind spot closer to the side of a car that will happily hide a bicycle.
PS: please do shoulder checks, there's no way non-convex mirrors adjustment would solve the problem
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If you’re checking your mirrors enough you’ll see the bike in the rear view mirror…
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Believe me, I have tried to convince people of this for many years. Going back to NA after driving cars in Europe makes the mirrors feel like tiny portholes.
You won’t be able to convince North Americans that their mirrors aren’t perfect. Believe me I’ve tried.
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I’d like to add, the mirrors should not see your doors, door handles max. This gives you most visibility of the road
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Indeed, I would say it should NOT cover your door handles at all. Drivers should lean their head like an inch or so to be able to see the handles/sides. And the rear view mirror should cover the rest.
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One car I drove had blind spot mirrors (a little circle in the corner of the mirror), another one didn't. Regardless, I always do a head turn check before I change lanes, but the mirrors give me peace of mind.
I would argue that people shouldn't rely solely on the car's mirrors or sensors, and learn the method that works regardless of car make, trim or mirror configuration.
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Good awareness by the white car. Doesn't look like contact was made- wonder if the truck even realized how much trouble he almost caused.
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He aborted the lane change, so it seems he finally noticed part way in.
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I do the same but with all vehicles. A person can suddenly have a stroke or heart attack and lane change without looking so I stay driving defensively
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It could’ve potentially been dangerous but chances are it would’ve been broken mirrors and or slight cosmetic damage
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"Slight cosmetic damage" that costs $5,500 to fix
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Idiots adjust their mirrors to where they see more of the side of their car than the road next to them.
If adjusted properly you shouldn't see any bit of the rear or side of your car.
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Stop repeating this. Adjust your mirrors and you’ll have zero blind spots. If you have blind spots you’re an idiot
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That's why you stay out of other people's blind spots. You can't adjust other people's mirrors or their stupidity.
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That still doesn’t make it a “blind spot”
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Blind spot, no blind spot, doesn't matter. How can you be that unaware of the traffic around you? You've either pulled alongside them at some point - in which case you knew they were there - or you've seen them coming with regular mirror checks.
I don't understand what is taught to US drivers in this sub sometimes.
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Australian drivers here...
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hahahaha ok :) Iam just flabbergasted but some of the stuff in here. I should go browse r/eyebleach or something...
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nothing is taught to US drivers
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what kind of truck is that?
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Mazda BT-50
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[deleted]
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Yes looks like a second gen bt50. Thanks I'd have never gotten it, we don't have those here in US
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No idea sry.
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ugly af is what it is
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Stay out of other drivers' blind spots like the plague. Either slow down or speed up and then maintain normal speed.
If next to any sort of truck then even more important.
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This is good defensive driving advice
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Yes it is, except the white car wasn't in the blind spot when the truck started coming over - it was right next to the bleeding truck.
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Cars do not have blind spots. Adjust your mirrors properly.
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Don't tell me. Tell other drivers please.
Do you trust every driver to adjust mirrors properly?
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I just told other drivers? You’re original message anyways makes it sound as if you believe there are unavoidable blind spots.
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There was a miscommunication. I was saying stay out of positions where you might be in another driver's blind spot. Not where they are in your blind spot.
To say in a different way make sure other cars can see you even if they didn't adjust their mirrors properly. Even if you adjust your mirrors perfectly, other drivers probably won't.
EDIT: you're trolling. Well played
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Adjust your mirrors properly
Bold of you to assume drivers like the one here in the pickup check their mirrors often enough.
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But there are blind drivers. So stay out of blind spots.
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Also: that truck looks new enough that it should have blond spot monitoring.
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I think, its how to change lanes using blinkers only. Mirrors were not used during this manuever.
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How to change lanes without looking is more like it
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They got a neck brace on or something?
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Unpopular opinion: but the white car shouldn't be lingering in a hazardous place anyway
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This is why I stay out of ppls blind spot
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Why must idiots always signal and manoeuvre at the exact same time? It renders the signal completely obsolete. Bonus points for signalling at all really but fuck me, terrible.
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Perfect opportunity for a pitman maneuver
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All you need are mirrors if you know how your 3 mirrors are supposed to be positioned. Sadly 90% of people have no clue.
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It's in Australia so he'd be using his passenger side mirror I'd imagine.
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Fair enough
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It's possible to check your blind spot without looking over your shoulder. But it requires you have the mirrors set correctly
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It’s not really a blind spot if you have your mottos setup correctly, most people are just too dumb to do so, sadly
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It's not commonly taught and usually taught incorrectly
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I also like the part where they signaled while performing the lane change maneuver instead of signaling to let everyone know they were planning to do one. Thanks. We can tell you’re changing lanes by watching you do it. The blinking light doesn’t help at this point.
This always gets me..
I always backseat drive my significant other when she does this, she'll also turn her signal off, if she isn't clear, then back on as she lane changes.
"This isn't how that works lady" 🤣
The significant other deserves the backseat driving lol 😆
In the UK, I had the driver instructor and test invigilator say the same thing, that you shouldn't use your signal until you're starting the manoeuvre...I opted to drive like I was taught in North America and signal my intentions so people are aware of them!
Sorry but you clearly weren't listening if you think that's what they said. In the UK it's Mirror–Signal–Manoeuvre and Manoeuvre is further broken down into Position–Speed–Look, with Look further broken into Look–Assess–Decide–Act. If you go into Act without having shown all the prior stages, you get at least one minor fault; go into Act without having shown all the prior stages and cause danger or potential danger and you'll get a dangerous or serious fault and an immediate fail.
Mate, I clearly was listening, and they were clearly wrong. I also had a driver instructor who told me that the 20mph speed limit in my borough was stupid, and I should drive faster than that, as the police wouldn't enforce it.
Just because something should be done a correct way doesn't mean that people are teaching it that way.
And they probably yelled "fucking idiot driver, LEARN HOW TO DRIVE!"
To be entirely fair, they broke several basic rules of driving, and almost the most basic one: don’t hit stuff.
I was talking about the idiot.
I only signal to let those around me know that my lane change is intentional. I'm letting whomever know that I'm coming, not that I'm asking. If you ask, some drivers will speed up to block you.
My mirrors don't see my blind spot very well so I also will look before moving over.
You can’t rely on other drivers to dodge you. Some people are more aggressive than you, some are not paying attention, some are intoxicated, and some are just plain stupid. Driving like that’s going to get you in an accident eventually. It may even be considered your fault since it’s your responsibility as a driver to make sure any maneuvers you make are safe.
You can't account for people to not crash into you when you are sitting still. Seen enough of those on this sub. You also forget the biggest issue, being that I'm in Florida, there is a high chance of all of the above plus the person could also be carrying a firearm. I don't cut people off, I don't engage in road rage, I tend to be a fairly considerate driver but you never know what will set off another driver.
We weren’t talking about while you’re parked; you can’t maneuver while stopped.
And you said before that you signal to tell people you’re coming, not that you’re asking. That sure sounds like aggressive driving to me.
Maybe I’m just misunderstanding, but you seem kind of all over the place with this.
Using the blinker earlier is just an invitation for the car behind you to speed up to not let you in. It sucks but that's what happens when there's no driver's education
That may be true, but if you operate on that premise, there’s no point to using the blinker at all. You indicate that you’re intending to make a maneuver. That’s what they’re for: to indicate your intentions. If some asshole decides to jam themselves into the space you were intending to use, fine. As long as you don’t just keep making the maneuver — you saw the asshole because you were looking, right? — you’ll be fine. Just wait for your next opening.
If some bloke wants to speed up and block you out that's fine, you just go behind them. You have to show the people in the next lane that you want to go, before you go. You can still force your way in a bit, but at least let the people in the lane you are entering expect your arrival.
But then I'll be behind 1 more car! It will take entire seconds to make that time up. Totally unacceptable.