How to Judge the Distance of a Car by Looking at the Rearview Mirror?
2 Answers
How to judge the distance of a car by looking at the rearview mirror is as follows: 1. Use the center of the rearview mirror as a reference line. When the car body is on the outer side of the reference line and the rear car cannot be fully seen, the distance is 5 meters; 2. When the rear car fully appears in the rearview mirror and the car body is pressing on the reference line, the distance is 10 meters; 3. When the rear car is pressing on the central axis of the rearview mirror, and there is still one car's width between the car in the rearview mirror and the outer edge of the rearview mirror, the distance is 15 meters; 4. When the rear car is pressing on the central axis of the rearview mirror, and there are two cars' width between the rear car and the outer edge of the rearview mirror, the distance is 20 meters.
I've been driving for years and mainly rely on rearview mirrors to judge distances—it's a fundamental skill. First, ensure the rearview mirror is properly adjusted to show the complete frame of the rear window. Then, observe the size of the car behind in the mirror: the smaller it appears, the farther away it is. If it looks like a tiny ant, it's probably over ten meters away. Be alert when it grows larger—occupying less than one-third of the mirror is still safe, but exceeding half means it's dangerously close. When practicing on highways, I often use fixed references like lane markings to compare the changing position of the car behind: as it approaches, it appears larger and moves faster. Judgment becomes harder in rain or darkness, so I recommend leaving extra margin to avoid misjudgment. Always check the rearview mirror and scan blind spots with side mirrors before changing lanes. This method relies entirely on accumulated experience—beginners can improve their intuition with practice, but ensuring driving safety is paramount above all else.
