How to Determine the Distance of the Rear Vehicle for Overtaking Using Side Mirrors?
2 Answers
When observing the side mirrors, they should be divided into inner and outer sections. If the rear vehicle is closer to you, the visible area of the vehicle will be smaller, and it will appear closer to the outer edge of the mirror, approximately 25 meters away. Conversely, if the rear vehicle is farther away, the visible area will be more complete, and it will appear closer to the inner edge of the mirror. The closer the distance, the smaller the visible area in the mirror: If the rear vehicle is closer to you, the visible area will be smaller, and it will appear closer to the outer edge of the mirror. If the rear vehicle is farther away, the visible area will be more complete, and it will appear closer to the inner edge. Generally, if the rear vehicle is at the intersection of the inner and outer sections of the mirror, it is approximately 25 meters away. Estimating distance using the interior rearview mirror: Additionally, you can estimate the distance between your vehicle and the rear vehicle using the interior rearview mirror. If you can only see the rear vehicle's hood and not its windshield, the distance is about 3 meters. If you can see the rear vehicle's windshield, the distance is approximately 8 meters. If you can fully see the rear vehicle's wheels, the distance is more than 20 meters.
As a seasoned driver with over a decade of highway experience, I believe the key to judging the distance of a trailing vehicle for overtaking lies in observing its size and movement in the side mirrors. If it appears as a tiny dot in the mirror, it indicates a safe distance, allowing me to signal and prepare for overtaking. I simultaneously glance at my speed and the road ahead to ensure sufficient acceleration space. Proper mirror adjustment is crucial—I prefer setting them wider to cover the entire side and rear areas, eliminating blind spots. During long drives, I also monitor trailing vehicles' trends—if one is accelerating closer, it's unsafe, so I wait until it stabilizes. Overtaking requires decisiveness yet smoothness to minimize hesitation-induced risks. Years of experience have taught me that safety comes first, but this technique saves time efficiently.
