[stiltd174]

So I've been driving for 20 years and this never occured to me but I was reading the latest Car and Driver mag and there was a quick blurb about how to set your side view mirrors to eliminate blind spots. The conventional setup that I would use has the side view mirrors adjusted so that you can still see a small portion of your car while seeing what is next to you. However this leaves a small blind spot on each side. Instead adjust the angle outward a bit. What you can then do is while in normal traffic on a 2-3 lane highway is test the setup. With the new angle you can watch a car (as you pass it) go from peripheral vision to the side mirror to the rear mirror. With the conventional setup the car will disappear briefly. They said it would take a while to adjust but I love the difference already. Still I will check blindspots and its always good to look.

link: http://blog.caranddriver.com/how-to-...spots-feature/

[wrxdriver]

I've always used small "fish-eyes" which I stick on both side mirrors. Besides eliminating blind spots the fish-eyes also allow you to see straight down. This helps me because I always back into my parking spots. I find a spot at the end of a row so I only have a parking spot on one side of me. Then I put the tires as close to the painted line near the isle as possible. This leaves lots of room for whoever parks next to me. I rarely get door dings, although I usually have to walk a long way across the parking lot!
If you put fish-eyes on check the adhessive periodically. I had one blow off on the highway and thump against the car. Besides startling the hell out of me, it left a small scratch in the paint.

[stimulation]

20 years or more including myself ( heck senior drivers you know!) if you don't develop the basic skill of scanning you mirrors every now and then, you won't know where you are in traffic, not just looking when you need to. There's always a blind spot. Simply paying attention to driving and developing driving skills make it more fun and safe. Its not practical for me to adjust the side mirrors of all 5 cars with 3 drivers in the family.

[Diamond-Star-Halo]

The conventional practice of being able to see the sides of your car with the mirrors is wrong. It creates huge blindspots on the side and lots of redundant views of what is behind you. I have my side mirrors adjusted way out away from the sides of the car. I have pretty eliminated the blindspots and have a much wider field of vision. The Car-Talk guys have a little tutorial on how to set your side mirrors here ...

Car Talk | How to Avoid the Blind Spot

[stiltd174]

Originally Posted by Diamond-Star-Halo

The conventional practice of being able to see the sides of your car with the mirrors is wrong. It creates huge blindspots on the side and lots of redundant views of what is behind you. I have my side mirrors adjusted way out away from the sides of the car. I have pretty eliminated the blindspots and have a much wider field of vision. The Car-Talk guys have a little tutorial on how to set your side mirrors here ...

Car Talk | How to Avoid the Blind Spot

Yep^^^^ Pretty much what I said in OP and I do love those car talk guys too.

[BluSTi]

If you always go fast enough you shouldn't even need mirrors.

[RenoSTi]

I read an article a long time ago from a professional truck driver. While basically saying what has already been posted, his specific technique was:
LEFT MIRROR: with your head up against the window, adjust the mirror so you can just barely see the side of your car in it.
RIGHT MIRROR: with your head placed in the middle of the car (i.e. between the 2 seats), again adjust the mirror so you can just barely see the side of your car.
What I like about this is you can do it while the car is stopped but you'll find that as cars approach you from either side, the mirrors are right so you'll see the other cars in the side mirrors until they appear in your peripheral vision.

[stimulation]

I think there's too much thought on a simple step. You need to see part of your car to see how far you are from the curb when parking. Scan your mirrors and not trust just the side mirrors. It all depends on the car design, some have huge blind spots no matter what. This expalins why a lot of people don't know how to change lanes since they don't see themselves where they are in traffic. Why do you think a blind spot mirror was not incorporated in the design, instead you have 3 mirrors. In teh end driving is a skill and you get better and safer as you go. I can drive safely other peoples cars without having to readjust the mirrors.

[Atomic Rooster]

What I'd really like is to mount a mirror on the passenger side that looks forward. It'd be great for navigating around the lemmings.

[GotSTI?]

Originally Posted by BluSTi

If you always go fast enough you shouldn't even need mirrors.

Right on! LOL