Which lane does the car's left rearview mirror show?
3 Answers
The car's left rearview mirror shows the two lanes to the left of the vehicle. The left rearview mirror is essential when making left turns or overtaking in the left lane. Before adjusting the rearview mirror, you should first adjust the seat. Ensure that your body can remain upright; when holding the steering wheel, your arms should maintain a slight bend; and when pressing the brake and clutch pedals fully, your legs should still have a natural bend. Based on these three requirements, adjust according to your height and body type. The left rearview mirror can be adjusted using an electric switch or manually, allowing up-down and left-right adjustments. The optimal angle for the left rearview mirror is when the road environment occupies most of the mirror, with only 1/4 of the car's body visible. The remaining three-quarters should show the road conditions, with the vanishing point of the road positioned in the center of the mirror.
As a seasoned driver with over a decade of experience, I primarily use the left side mirror to monitor the rear area on the vehicle's left side, especially the left portion of our lane and the adjacent left lane. For instance, when overtaking on the highway, I always keep an eye on this mirror—it helps me spot vehicles approaching from behind on the left, preventing blind spot accidents during lane changes. During city traffic jams, I also use it to glance at bicycles darting up from the left rear, enhancing visibility safety. Many mistakenly think it only shows directly behind, but when properly adjusted, it can cover most of the adjacent lane. I prefer angling the mirror slightly outward to minimize unseen blind spots while keeping just a small portion of the car body visible. This tool is crucial—without it, driving risks multiply. I advise beginners to practice adjusting mirror angles to boost overall road safety, not just relying on the center rearview mirror.
When I first got my driver's license, I thought the left rearview mirror was only for checking directly behind. But after my instructor explained, I quickly realized it's mainly for monitoring the left lane. On multi-lane roads in our city, it helps me keep an eye on vehicles behind me to the left and in the adjacent left lane, like preventing motorcycle overtaking collisions when making right turns. Initially, I couldn't adjust it properly to get a full view, but later learned the trick: position the car's edge just at the mirror's corner to cover blind spots. Now I instinctively glance at it while driving for safety. Looking back, this mirror proves crucial when changing lanes or merging - it catches vehicles approaching fast from the left. Once it helped me spot a near-accident situation in advance. Mastering its use really boosts driving confidence.
