how to set side mirrors on car

[CarlosLynn]

The most effective way to set your car's side mirrors is to use the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Recommended Method, which minimizes blind spots. This technique positions the mirrors so that your own car is barely visible in them, creating a seamless transition from your rearview mirror to your side mirrors.

A common mistake is setting the mirrors to see the side of your own car. This creates a significant blind spot where a vehicle can hide. The goal is to eliminate this overlap. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Lean Left: Sit normally in the driver's seat, then lean your head until it almost touches the driver's side window.
2. Adjust Left Mirror: Adjust the driver's side mirror outward until the side of your car is just barely out of view.
3. Lean Right: Return to a normal sitting position, then lean your head to the right, toward the center console.
4. Adjust Right Mirror: Adjust the passenger side mirror outward until the side of your car is, again, just barely out of view.

The result should feel a little strange at first. When you look in your driver's side mirror, you won't see the familiar view of your own car's rear fender. Instead, you'll see the lane next to you. When a car passes you, it will move from your rearview mirror to your side mirror, and then into your peripheral vision, with no disappearing act.

To illustrate the effectiveness, here is a comparison of blind spot sizes using different mirror settings:

Mirror Setting Method	Approximate Blind Spot Size (Degrees)	Risk Level
Traditional (Seeing car's side)	15-20 degrees	High
SAE Recommended Method	5-10 degrees	Low
With Blind Spot Monitoring System	0-5 degrees	Very Low

The SAE method significantly reduces the area where a vehicle can be hidden from your view, enhancing safety during lane changes. Always perform a quick head check over your shoulder as a final precaution, as even this method doesn't eliminate the blind spot entirely.

[DiKayden]

I used to set my mirrors so I could see my own car, thinking it helped with parking. Big mistake. A friend who’s a driving instructor showed me the lean-and-adjust trick. You lean your head to the window, set the mirror until your car disappears, then do the same leaning to the center. Now, when a car passes me, it just glides from the rearview to the side mirror. I still glance over my shoulder out of habit, but the blind spot is basically gone. It feels weird for a day, then you realize how unsafe the old way was.