To adjust your car's side view mirrors correctly, the goal is to minimize blind spots—the areas you can't see in your mirrors or peripheral vision. The most effective technique is the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) method: sit in your normal driving position, then adjust the mirrors so you can't see the side of your own car. This expands your field of vision and reduces the need to turn your head excessively.
Start with the driver's side mirror. Lean your head until it almost touches the window glass. From this position, adjust the mirror outward until you can just barely see the edge of your car's rear fender. Then, return to your upright driving position; you shouldn't see your car's side in the mirror. This setting helps cover the lane beside you.
For the passenger side mirror, lean your head toward the center of the car (between the front seats). Adjust that mirror outward until, again, you just see a sliver of your car's side. When you sit back normally, the mirror should show the adjacent lane without overlapping too much with the rearview mirror's view.
Why this matters: Properly adjusted mirrors significantly reduce blind spots, which are a common cause of lane-change accidents. According to SAE studies, this method can decrease blind spot area by up to 90% compared to traditional settings where drivers see their own car. It's a key part of defensive driving, endorsed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for improving road safety.
Remember to make small adjustments while driving slowly in a safe area, like an empty parking lot. Avoid over-adjusting, as extreme angles can distort distance perception. If your car has blind-spot monitoring systems, treat them as a backup, not a replacement for proper mirror setup.
