How to Judge the Distance of Left and Right Vehicles When Meeting?
2 Answers
Methods to judge the distance of left and right vehicles when meeting are as follows: Judging the left vehicle distance: You can use fixed reference points on the car to judge. When the midpoint of the left rearview mirror is aligned with the left sideline, the distance between the vehicle and the sideline is 1.5 meters. When the vertex of the angle between the left A-pillar and the lower edge of the windshield is aligned with the left sideline, the distance between the vehicle and the left sideline is 60 centimeters. Judging the right vehicle distance: When the white line is at the midpoint of the engine hood, the right wheel of the vehicle is already on the line. When the white line is at the half position on the right side of the engine hood, the distance between the vehicle and the right sideline is 30 centimeters. When the white line is at the one-third position on the right side of the engine hood, the distance between the vehicle and the right sideline is 60 centimeters. Judging the position of the right front corner: When the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle vehicle is 20 centimeters, the lowest point of the obstacle vehicle visible in the field of view is at 80 centimeters. For sedans, the height of 80 centimeters is below the door handle, while for SUVs, the height of 80 centimeters is approximately at the lower edge of the headlight. Judging the position of the right rear wheel: You can observe the position of the door handle through the right rearview mirror. However, during normal driving, our right rearview mirror is usually not adjusted downward to look at the wheels as in a test. In this case, you can look at the door handle. When the door handle coincides with the sideline, it means the right rear wheel is already on the line.
After driving for so many years, I judge the distance between left and right cars mainly by experience and physical feeling. I like to observe in the rearview mirror: if I can see the entire body or wheels of the car, it means the distance is at least a few meters; if only half is visible, it's too close and needs adjustment. Body reference points are a big help, such as seeing whether the edge of the wheel is clearly visible from the driver's seat, including the ground or road signs—if so, it indicates a safe distance. On curves or at night, when lighting changes quickly, I deliberately slow down and focus on the position of the other car’s headlights—if they appear higher, the distance is greater, and if lower, it’s closer. Practice makes perfect. When I was first learning, I simulated oncoming traffic on empty roads, and over time, it became natural. Every time I drive, I remind myself to leave some margin—misjudging distance easily leads to scratches or collisions, so don’t cut it too close. More driving and real-world experience help develop this sense—safety comes first.
