Should the rearview mirror be adjusted to the front door or the rear door?
4 Answers
The left rearview mirror should allow visibility of both the front and rear door handles of the vehicle, as well as the position of the rear wheel fender. The right rearview mirror should be adjusted to the same position to ensure driving safety. The interior rearview mirror should be positioned in the center of the rear window. Position of the central rearview mirror: The ground should occupy half of the view, and the sky should also occupy half. Position of the right rearview mirror: The sky in the right rearview mirror should occupy only a quarter of the view, and the vehicle body should also occupy a quarter. Position of the left rearview mirror: Using the horizon as a reference, the rearview mirror should display an equal split between sky and ground. Then, adjust the left and right angles so that the vehicle body occupies about a quarter of the mirror's surface.
When I drive my SUV to pick up and drop off my kids at school, I've found that adjusting the side mirrors to just see the rear door handle works best. This way, only a small portion of the car body is visible, significantly widening the field of view and minimizing blind spots, making it easier to see vehicles approaching from the side and rear when changing lanes. Previously, I used to adjust them to show the front door handle, which resulted in too much of the car body being visible, increasing blind spots and nearly causing accidents several times. Since then, I've stuck to this method, making driving safer, especially in congested areas. I also recommend friends to try adjusting the angle: first, sit in the driver's seat in a normal posture, then slowly rotate the mirror until just a tiny part of the rear door handle appears—don't set it too low or too high, as it could affect visibility at high speeds. Remember to regularly check if the mirror is loose or obstructed by dirt, as these small details can enhance safety.
As a new driver who just got my license, my instructor taught me to adjust the side mirrors to show the rear door handles. He said this minimizes unnecessary car body in the mirror view, prevents obstructing rear-side visibility, and makes it easier to observe traffic in adjacent lanes while driving. Initially, I found adjusting to show the front door handles more convenient, but soon realized the blind spots were too large for safe lane changes. Now I've developed a habit of adjusting before each drive, ensuring just a tiny portion of the rear door handle is visible at the bottom right corner of the mirror - this truly provides wider visibility and reduces frequent head-turning. I recommend taking time to properly position yourself before fine-tuning the mirrors, coordinating with the rearview mirror to cover the entire rear view. This setup works well whether navigating small city streets or highways. Never overlook these details - proper mirror adjustment is crucial for driving safety, especially during rainy or foggy conditions when visibility is poor.
I usually adjust the side mirrors to align with the rear door handles when driving my family around. This setting minimizes the car body in the mirror while maximizing the view, reducing blind spots and making it safer for kids getting in and out. Previously, aligning with the front door handles left too much car body in view, making it easy to miss hazards on the side. I've found this angle works well for most vehicles, especially sedans or small trucks, making parking and lane changes much easier. I recommend adjusting it in one go along with your seat height for the best setup.
