What is the mnemonic for judging car distance in the left and right rearview mirrors?
2 Answers
The mnemonic for judging car distance in the left and right rearview mirrors is: the smaller the rear car appears, the safer it is; when the rear car occupies 1/3 of the mirror, the distance is 10 meters; when it occupies 1/2, the distance is 7 meters - turning is possible; when the rear car fills the entire mirror, the distance is 3 meters - turning is not advisable. Below are relevant explanations: 1. Vehicle distance: In China, vehicles are left-hand drive with the driver positioned on the left side, making it easier to judge distances on the left. When the following car maintains sufficient distance, normal turning operations can be performed. 2. Rearview mirrors: Rearview mirrors are tools that allow drivers to directly obtain information about the rear, sides, and lower areas of the vehicle while seated. For driver convenience and to prevent traffic accidents while ensuring personal safety, all countries mandate the installation of rearview mirrors on vehicles.
When I first started learning to drive, my instructor repeatedly emphasized a rhyme for judging the distance of cars behind: in the left rearview mirror, when the car behind occupies about one-third of the mirror, it means the distance is more than 10 meters, making it safer to change lanes; when it fills half the mirror, the distance shortens to around 5 meters, requiring extra caution; when it fills the entire mirror, the distance is less than 3 meters, and changing lanes is absolutely forbidden to avoid rear-end collisions. I often struggled to remember these details during my lessons, and once nearly caused an accident while changing lanes. Since then, I've made it a habit to adjust my mirrors using this rhyme before driving—first adjusting the seat, then mentally dividing the mirror into three equal parts, and practicing the proportions with reference objects while parked. A quick glance while driving is all it takes to judge the distance, making it both convenient and reliable. Over time, it becomes second nature.
