Take a look at the four side mirrors above. Each shows a different setup: A shows a large part of the car’s own door, B shows even more, C shows a thin strip of the car, and D shows no part of the car at all, only the road and the lanes beside you.
So which one is adjusted correctly?
The answer: D.
If you picked A, B, or C, you are in good company. Most drivers were taught to set their side mirrors so that they can see a bit of their own car. It feels natural, because it gives you a reference point. But that habit has a serious downside.
THE PROBLEM WITH SEEING YOUR OWN CAR
When you can see the side of your car in the mirror, the mirror is pointing at something you already know is there. That wastes part of its view, and it creates a blind spot, an area beside and just behind your car that neither your rearview mirror nor your side mirror covers. A vehicle can sit in that zone without you seeing it, and that is how many lane-change collisions happen.
WHY D WORKS BETTER
In mirror D, the view is angled outward, so it covers the lane next to you. Your rearview mirror shows what is directly behind you, and your side mirrors show what is next to you. The two views overlap only a little, so a car leaving the rearview mirror appears in the side mirror almost immediately. This is often called the Blind Spot and Glare Elimination (BGE) method, and it also reduces the glare from headlights behind you at night.
HOW TO SET YOUR MIRRORS THE RIGHT WAY
1. Start with the rearview mirror. Sit in your normal driving position and adjust the inside mirror so that you see as much of the rear window as possible.
2. Left mirror: Lean your head toward the driver’s window until it almost touches the glass. Adjust the mirror outward until you can just barely see the side of your car.
3. Right mirror: Lean your head toward the center of the car, above the center console. Adjust the right mirror outward until you can just barely see the side of your car.
4. Sit back upright. From your normal seat position, you should no longer see any part of your own car in either side mirror, just like in image D.
HOW TO TEST IT
Next time you are on a multi-lane road, watch a car that is passing you. It should appear in your rearview mirror first, then slide into the side mirror, and then show up in your peripheral vision. There should be no moment when it disappears completely. If it does, adjust the mirror a little more outward.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
– It takes a few days to get used to. At first, the view may feel strange because you have no car as a reference. Give it a week of normal driving.
– Mirrors are not perfect. Even a perfectly adjusted setup does not remove every blind spot, especially with motorcycles and bicycles.
– Always do a quick shoulder check before changing lanes. Good mirrors support your awareness, but they do not replace it.
– Vehicle type matters. Trucks, vans, and SUVs may need a slightly different adjustment, so check your owner’s manual.
– Do not adjust while driving. Set your mirrors before you start the car, and recheck them whenever someone else has driven it.
THE TAKEAWAY
The best mirror setup is not the one that makes you feel comfortable, but the one that shows you the most of what you cannot otherwise see. Spend two minutes adjusting your mirrors before your next drive, and you could avoid the kind of mistake that happens in a split second.
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