What is the Proper Position to Adjust the Rearview Mirrors for Subject 2?
4 Answers
It is generally most suitable to adjust the mirrors to a position where you can see the rear of the car and even the rear corners of the garage. However, when adjusting the left mirror, the body of the car can occupy slightly more space, with the rear door handle near the upper edge of the mirror. The adjustment should be such that you can see the left rear wheel without sticking your head out of the window. This facilitates observation during left-side parking and parallel parking. Here are some tips for reversing in Subject 2: 1. Plan the route in advance: Before reversing, first check the situation behind the car, estimate the reversing path, and determine whether the front of the car might hit any obstacles. 2. Determine the steering direction based on the movement direction: If the rear of the car needs to move to the right rear, turn the steering wheel to the right; conversely, turn it to the left. 3. Always pay attention to the rearview mirrors: During reversing, do not keep looking only behind the car. While ensuring safety behind, you should also frequently observe the left and right rearview mirrors to monitor the distance between obstacles and the car body. 4. Check the front of the car: During reversing, the front of the car might hit obstacles, so it’s necessary to occasionally check the front of the car. Especially when the steering wheel is turned significantly, the front of the car swings outward more, so be careful to avoid collisions.
Adjusting the mirrors is a crucial step during the Subject 2 driving test. Having taught people to drive for over a decade, I recommend positioning the side mirrors so that about a quarter of the car body is visible—this helps you see the tires and parking lines clearly when reversing. The rearview mirror should be adjusted to fully cover the back window, providing a complete view of the area behind the car. Remember, mirrors should not be set too high or too low; incorrect angles during the test can lead to misjudgment, causing you to cross lines or scrape obstacles. A common mistake learners make is adjusting only one side while neglecting the other or forgetting to lock the mirrors in place after adjustment. Practicing this multiple times helps familiarize yourself with the mirror positions, saving time and increasing your pass rate in Subject 2. Additionally, check if the mirrors wobble before the test to ensure they are secure, avoiding unnecessary distractions when nervous. Developing this habit also enhances safety in everyday driving.
I just passed my driving test, and the most frustrating part of the subject two was adjusting the mirrors. During practice, my instructor told me to adjust the side mirrors so that a small portion of the car body is visible, with the widest possible rear view—about one-third of the car body in the mirror—so I could see the corner of the parking space and the adjacent cars while reversing. As for the interior rearview mirror, simply align it with your eye level to get a full view of the back seat or rear window. I remember the night before the test, I repeatedly adjusted the position—too low and I couldn’t see the ground markings, too high and it got blurry. Now, during my daily commute, I still use the same method, but it’s more flexible than during the test, allowing minor adjustments based on road conditions. After mastering this trick, my parking accuracy improved, and it also eased my anxiety about blind spots.
Properly adjusting the mirrors can prevent accidents. As a long-time driver, I adjust the side mirrors to show just a sliver of the car body—about the width of a palm—with the majority of the view covering the rear area to minimize blind spots. The rearview mirror should display the full rear window for easy monitoring of vehicles behind. This setup helps clearly judge distances during maneuvers like reversing in the driving test, avoiding scrapes. Incorrect mirror positioning can distort perspectives and lead to errors. I recommend combining turn signal use with habitual double-checking for safety.
