How to Adjust Vehicle Mirrors Properly?
2 Answers
Methods for adjusting vehicle mirrors properly: 1. Left side mirror: The driver should use the horizon as a reference, adjusting the vertical angle so that the sky and ground each occupy half of the mirror; 2. Left side mirror horizontal angle: Adjust so that the car body occupies about one-quarter of the mirror surface, with the driver's seating position based on the driving posture; 3. Right side mirror: Reduce the space occupied by the sky, with the sky occupying one-quarter and the ground occupying three-quarters of the mirror; 4. Right side mirror horizontal angle: Adjust so that the car body occupies about one-quarter of the mirror surface; 5. Central interior mirror: Adjust so that the rearview mirror allows a clear view of the rear through the car window.
Adjusting the mirrors before driving should be done step by step. I usually start by sitting in the driver's seat and adjusting the seat backrest so that my back fits snugly against the headrest, and my hands comfortably grip the steering wheel without stiffness. Next, I adjust the interior rearview mirror: level it to ensure full coverage of the rear window, allowing me to glance left and right to check traffic conditions. For the left side mirror, I position it so the car body occupies about a quarter of the mirror surface, just enough to see a bit of the left door handle. The right side mirror should have even less of the car body, leaving more space to see farther into the adjacent lane due to its larger blind spot. Test the safety of lane changes on the highway—if there are no blind spot hazards, the adjustment is good. Also, check that the mirrors are stable to reduce glare from bright lights at night. Adjust them periodically, especially if your driving habits change. Don’t underestimate this step—it could help prevent rear-end collisions.