How to Use Rearview Mirrors for Reversing?
3 Answers
It is necessary to adjust the right rearview mirror to ensure that the top of the mirror can see the rear door handle while keeping the front door handle in the center of the mirror. Note that the car body should occupy 1/4 of the mirror area. For the left rearview mirror, ensure that the left rear wheel is visible when parking sideways, and also observe the distance between the right front of the vehicle on the left side of the parking space and the left end of your car's rear bumper through the left exterior mirror. There are three key reversing techniques: 1. Adjust the position between the car body and the corner of the parking space: Check the relationship between the car body and the corner of the parking space in advance. Observe through the rearview mirror to predict whether the car body will be too close or too far from the corner at the current angle, then steer to correct it. Ideally, maintain a distance of 30 cm between the car body and the corner. 2. Correct the car body inside the parking space: After the rear half of the car enters the parking space, steer to adjust. Observe the left and right rearview mirrors to determine which side the front of the car is tilting toward and which side the rear is tilting toward, then steer toward the tilting side to correct the car body. 3. Find the stopping point: Judge when to stop by observing the relationship between the left rearview mirror and the boundary line. When the left rearview mirror covers the boundary line, immediately press the clutch to stop.
I do the rearview mirror reversing thing every day, and it's quite simple once you get used to it. First, sit firmly in position and adjust the mirrors so you can see a small part of the rear bumper and a bit of the side. When reversing, don’t rush—press the brake slowly and back up while keeping an eye on the target position in the mirror, like the rear line of the parking spot. Remember, the mirror shows a reflection: turning the steering wheel left makes the front of the car move right, which takes practice to get the feel for. Try practicing reverse parking in an empty space, using reference points like curbs or parking lines. For safety, I always turn my head to check behind me and recommend turning on the reversing radar or camera for assistance. If conditions are poor, like on rainy days when the mirrors are blurry, it’s best to observe pedestrians and vehicles around you more carefully—don’t take risks. Stick to these small habits, and reversing will become more confident and safe.
As a seasoned driver with twenty years of experience, I'm very familiar with reversing using rearview mirrors. Before reversing, I always take a quick glance behind to note the positions of obstacles as reference points. When adjusting the mirrors, ensure full coverage with no blind spots, angling them to cover the car's corners and the ground. Reverse slowly, steering gently, and observe distance changes in the mirrors: for example, when the car approaches a wall, the reflection in the mirror grows larger, indicating proximity. Experience tells me not to rely solely on mirrors—occasionally turning your head to double-check is more reliable, especially in crowded parking lots. Beginners often panic and steer the wrong way, so I recommend practicing reverse parking at a driving school first, using small markers as guides. While rearview mirrors are convenient, they can be misleading; adding a wide-angle mirror significantly improves visibility. Always reverse steadily and cultivate good observation habits to reduce the chance of accidents.
