To What Position Should Car Rearview Mirrors Be Adjusted?

[VonRicardo]

Here are the detailed instructions for adjusting the rearview mirror positions: 1. Adjusting the rearview mirror buttons: You can adjust them using the electric buttons inside the car, which are located on the left side of the steering wheel, allowing you to adjust both the left and right rearview mirrors. 2. Adjusting the central rearview mirror: Adjust the left and right positions so that the left edge of the mirror just cuts to the right ear of the image in the mirror, and the up and down positions should place the distant horizon in the center of the mirror. The key to adjusting the central rearview mirror is to place it horizontally in the middle and position the ear on the left. Place the distant horizon along the midline of the central rearview mirror, then move it left or right so that the image of the right ear is just at the left edge of the mirror. 3. Adjusting the left rearview mirror: For the up and down positions, place the distant horizon in the center, and for the left and right positions, adjust so that the car body occupies 1/4 of the mirror's area. The key to adjusting the left rearview mirror is to place the horizon along the midline of the mirror and adjust the car's edge to occupy 1/4 of the mirror's image. 4. Adjusting the right rearview mirror: Since the driver's seat is on the left, it is not as easy for the driver to grasp the situation on the right side of the car. Additionally, due to the need for roadside parking, the right rearview mirror should leave a larger ground area when adjusting the up and down positions, occupying about 2/3 of the mirror. As for the left and right positions, adjust so that the car body occupies 1/4 of the mirror's area. The key to adjusting the right rearview mirror is to place the horizon at the 2/3 position of the mirror and then adjust the car's edge to occupy 1/4 of the mirror's image.

[Jenkins]

As an experienced driver with years of driving experience, I believe the key to adjusting car rearview mirrors lies in maximizing visibility and minimizing blind spots. After sitting in the driver's seat and ensuring the seat height and distance are appropriate, adjust the interior rearview mirror: it should show the entire frame of the rear window, fully capturing the view behind. For the side mirrors, adjust the angle so that a small portion of the car body, such as the rear door handle or wheel arch, is just visible at the edge, while the main focus remains on covering the road conditions. This setup allows clear visibility of adjacent vehicles when changing lanes, helping to avoid accidents. Additionally, fine-tune the mirrors for different environments—slightly outward on highways to expand the field of view, and slightly inward in urban areas for easier observation of vehicles behind when parking. The adjustment process should be completed while the vehicle is stationary, followed by turning your head left and right to check if blind spots are reduced. Developing this habit has made my driving much safer and significantly reduced accident rates.

[CaliDella]

When I first got my driver's license, I would always fumble with the rearview mirror positions every time I got in the car. As a beginner, I often adjusted them incorrectly: the interior rearview mirror was either too high, showing only the roof, or too low, blocking my view; the side mirrors were often angled too far inward, with the car body occupying most of the frame, creating large blind spots when changing lanes. My instructor taught me a simple method: sit up straight and adjust the interior rearview mirror so that the rear window is centered and unobstructed; angle the side mirrors until only a small edge of the car body is visible, like the door handle. This way, while driving, the field of view is wider, making it easier to judge distances. Later, I developed the habit of spending a minute resetting the mirrors before each drive to ensure clear visibility at night or in the rain. Practicing this frequently during the beginner phase significantly improved safety, and I no longer felt nervous while driving.