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.

[Hubert]

The primary goal is safety through blind spot elimination. Adjust your seating position first. Then, for the driver's side mirror, position it so the horizon is centered and your vehicle's side is just outside the frame. For the passenger side, the horizon should also be centered, but you will need to adjust it further outward than you might think. The correct setting means you should not routinely see the side of your own car when sitting in a normal driving posture. This maximizes your field of view for adjacent lanes.

[StJude]

My car has a memory function for the mirror settings, which is great because I use the SAE method. It’s all about the angles. You program the mirrors so your car isn’t in the frame when you’re driving normally. This means when a car leaves your rearview, it immediately shows up in the side mirror. It’s a much smoother, safer transition. If your car has this feature, it’s worth taking the time to set it up correctly. It complements the blind spot warning light perfectly, often giving you a visual confirmation before the light even flashes.

[SanSienna]

Think of it like setting up a surveillance system for your car’s sides. You don't want two cameras watching the same spot. The rearview handles what's directly behind you. The side mirrors should cover the areas the rearview can't. When you’re driving straight, you shouldn't see your own car in the side mirrors. This is crucial for highway merging and city driving. Test it: have a friend walk around your parked car. You should see them move continuously from one mirror to the next without vanishing. It’s the single best upgrade for driving safety that costs nothing.