How to Adjust the Position of Rearview Mirrors?

[ReidLee]

Methods for adjusting car rearview mirrors: Adjust the tilt angle so that the car body occupies 1/4 of the mirror; adjust the elevation angle, with the left rearview mirror showing the sky and ground each occupying 1/2 of the mirror; for the right rearview mirror, the sky and ground should occupy 1/3 and 2/3 respectively. Below are detailed instructions: 1. Before adjusting the rearview mirrors, ensure the vehicle seat and steering wheel are properly positioned. 2. The basic principle for seat adjustment is to sit comfortably, have a clear view, and have easy access to the steering wheel. Maintaining a correct sitting posture is a prerequisite for adjusting the rearview mirrors; improper posture will render the adjusted mirrors ineffective. 3. For the central interior rearview mirror, adjust the horizon reflection to the center of the mirror and position the reflection of the right ear to the left edge of the mirror. 4. For the left exterior rearview mirror, adjust the horizon reflection to the center of the mirror and position the reflection of the left side of the car to occupy 1/4 of the right side of the mirror. 5. For the right exterior rearview mirror, adjust the horizon reflection to 2/3 of the mirror's height and position the reflection of the right side of the car to occupy 1/4 of the left side of the mirror. Allowing the ground reflection to occupy more area in the right rearview mirror helps the driver better monitor the road conditions on the right side and makes it easier to gauge the distance between the car body and the curb when parking.

[VonJune]

I've been driving taxis for over a decade and have my own method for adjusting rearview mirrors. First adjust the seat position when getting in the car, then set the mirrors after sitting comfortably. For the left side mirror, expose about a quarter of the car body and place the horizon slightly above the center of the mirror - this gives a clear view of the left rear wheel position. The right mirror is trickier to adjust due to the longer distance; I usually position the horizon at two-thirds height of the mirror while keeping the car body occupying one quarter. The interior center mirror is most critical - adjust it to show the entire rear window with all following vehicles' headlights in view. During rainy days, tilt the mirrors slightly downward to avoid water droplet glare. Always remember to check blind spots by turning your head after adjustment - I once nearly hit an electric scooter when I skipped this check. I reconfirm mirror positions before every passenger ride - safety comes first, no room for carelessness. After getting used to this adjustment routine, lane changes feel particularly reassuring.

[Everly]

I still remember how my instructor taught me to adjust the rearview mirrors when I first got my driver's license: First, adjust the seat to a comfortable position with your head resting against the headrest. Divide the left mirror into four parts—leave one part for the car body and use the remaining three parts to see behind, positioning the horizon slightly above the center. Apply the same principle to the right mirror, but pay extra attention to the ground, so the horizon should be moved higher. The interior rearview mirror should show the entire rear windshield, not just focus on one spot. Before driving, perform a blind spot test—when pedestrians pass by the side or rear, you should be able to see their feet by turning your shoulders. The rearview mirror heating function is incredibly useful in rainy weather—remember to turn it on. Now, before long trips, I always check the mirrors, which helps me drive for three hours without fatigue. If the mirrors had blind spot monitoring, it would be even more convenient, but you still shouldn’t rely entirely on electronic aids.

[Earl]

There are scientific standards for adjusting rearview mirrors. First, sit upright with your back firmly against the seat. When adjusting the left mirror, position the car body to occupy 1/4 of the mirror and the road view to occupy 3/4, with the horizon placed at the upper 1/3 of the mirror. For the right mirror, due to the different viewing angle, the car body should also occupy 1/4, but the horizon should be raised to the middle of the mirror. The center rearview mirror should fully cover the rear window, with the C-pillars just disappearing at the edges being the optimal position. After adjustment, verify: when a car behind disappears from the left mirror, it should immediately appear in the side window view. For interior rearview mirrors with anti-glare, switch to anti-glare mode at night. Note that convex mirrors have slight distortion, so allow extra margin when judging distances. Never adjust mirrors while driving—once I adjusted at a red light and almost missed the light change, nearly causing a rear-end collision.