How to Check Rearview Mirrors When Changing Lanes at Night?
2 Answers
Judge the distance between vehicles based on the size and intensity of the headlights from the following car reflected in the rearview mirror. The closer the car is, the brighter the headlights will appear. Lane-changing techniques: 1. Always use turn signals before changing lanes: When changing lanes at night, activate the turn signal in advance to alert other vehicles. 2. Observe vehicles ahead and to the side/rear: Check the traffic conditions around your car via the rearview mirror to ensure it is safe before proceeding. While observing the rearview mirror, also check for any vehicles in the blind spots on both sides of your car. Once confirmed safe, prepare to change lanes. 3. Steer gently and change lanes swiftly: Avoid turning the steering wheel too quickly when changing lanes, as rapid steering at high speeds may increase the risk of rollover. Do not hesitate when changing lanes; proceed immediately once safety is confirmed. 4. Change lanes early to avoid obstacles: If encountering an obstacle ahead, change lanes in advance to prevent interference from vehicles in adjacent lanes, which could lead to braking or forced lane changes causing collisions.
As someone who commutes by car every night, the cleanliness of the rearview mirrors is my top priority when changing lanes at night. As soon as I get in the car, I wipe off any dust or water stains on the mirrors; otherwise, the blurred reflections from lights can affect my judgment. Before starting a lane change, I always glance at the center rearview mirror to check for headlights from vehicles behind me—I can roughly estimate the distance and speed based on the brightness and movement speed of the lights. Then, I signal my intended lane change direction with the turn signal and carefully check the side mirrors while quickly turning my head to scan the blind spots, ensuring there are no hidden cars or motorcycles. Only when everything is safe do I smoothly steer into the new lane. With lower visibility at night and flickering streetlights in urban areas, misjudgments are more likely, so I slow down my lane changes, leaving a few seconds of buffer time. During rainy or foggy winter days, I wipe the mirrors more frequently to avoid glare interference. Years of practice have made these small techniques a habit, significantly improving my driving safety.
