Mirror adjustment, or how to eliminate the blind zone?

Passenger cars have 3 rear-view mirrors:

● life;

● right;

● central.

Which one is the starting point for the others and is the start of the mirror alignment? The procedure for minimizing the blind spot begins with the correct positioning of the mirror on the windshield. Only after that comes the regulation of the rest.

How to adjust the mirrors in the car?

Side mirrors are adjusted while stationary, not while driving. Drivers often catch themselves adjusting mirrors, for example, at traffic lights, when they only have a minute to do so. However, it is the driver's responsibility to adjust them before driving. How to properly adjust the mirrors in the car? Here are our tips.

What about the rearview mirror? 

First, look at the position of the rearview mirror on the center glass. You don't have to change your position in the chair, so don't bend over to change it. The key to properly adjusting the rear view mirrors is to be able to see everything that is happening just behind the car along its axis. This may take some time, but it is very important for the following mirrors.

How should the side mirrors be adjusted?

Start adjusting the mirrors from the left, which is closer to the driver. You can do this in two ways. The effect should be the same, and the method depends on your preference. In the first case, you can tilt your head to the glass, but do not bend over. Remember that you can not touch the glass with your head, but only approach it. Now you can adjust your mirrors so that you can only see a small part of your car's lines.

Alternative arrangement of mirrors in the car - left mirror

The second way to adjust the side mirrors is to get into the traditional driving position and adjust the side mirror. When using this method, remember that you should not see more than 10% of your car's body in the reflection. Thanks to this, you will eliminate the blind zone as much as possible. In practice, at least some drivers need to have at least a piece of the tailgate in the mirror to have a reference. This configuration results in more dead zones in the overall image.

Mirror adjustment - right side

Now only the right mirror remains. When adjusting the mirrors on this side, two methods can also be used. However, you can lean over the center tunnel and adjust the mirror so you can see a slight outline of the bodywork. You also need to pay attention that the mirror does not show too low (watch the curb) or too high, as the image can make it difficult to assess the situation on the road.

Car mirror adjustment and blind spot

How to check if the adjustment of the mirrors has brought a good effect? You can verify this by watching other vehicles overtake you. The key to knowing you did everything right is that the car in front is visible first in the rearview mirror and then in the side mirror. When you notice that at some point a vehicle disappears and you can't see it in any mirror, then you need to correct their position.

Why is proper mirror alignment important?

Many collisions and accidents occur because the driver does not look in the mirrors or, watching the image in them, does not see how the vehicle begins to overtake. Many dangerous situations could be avoided if drivers paid more attention to properly adjusting mirrors and looking into them at the right time. Therefore, it is not enough just to install them correctly. You should also use them as often as possible.

It should be remembered that the correct adjustment of the mirrors is possible and in practice it is possible to completely eliminate the blind zone. The whole procedure begins with the adjustment of the mirrors on the windshield. Correctly adjusting the side mirrors will minimize the effect of blind spots, allowing you to see more details while driving.