Right from the very start when learning to drive, we learn how important using our mirrors can be to become a good driver. We all know the basic MSM Routine (Mirror, Signal, and Manoeuvre) and must always be aware of how our own driving is likely to affect the traffic following you.
The MSM routine helps you to be aware of what you see in your mirrors and then how to act accordingly. Regular and sensible use of your mirrors is an essential element of driving safely, and toy should make the MSM routine an integral part of your driving.
A driving mirror is often referred to as the driver's third eye. Mirrors are one of the keys to defensive driving. Always use them to keep up to date with what is behind you and also to the sides of your car.
Remember, don't just look in your mirrors, and act safely on what you see!
Most cars should have three driving mirrors:
a. An interior mirror
b. Two exterior mirrors, one on the door of each side of the car.
Their main function should be to give you a view of the road behind you and to the sides; they should enable you to keep a constant check on what is happening around you, and also help you make safe and sensible decisions based on the position and speed of the other traffic around you.
You should make sure that your mirrors are clean and correctly adjusted before setting off, you should place them in a position that is comfortable and one that requires little head movement to get a good view.
Many new models may have electric door mirrors, you should be able to adjust them from the controls that are usually placed on the driver's door. Some will also have a heating element to keep them clear from frost and condensation. The interior mirror usually has an anti-dazzle position.
When you are driving at night, you can use this to prevent dazzle or distraction by the lights of the cars behind you. When moving the mirror to this position, you will still be able to see the lights, but the dazzle will be greatly reduced, always remember to reset this when returning to normal driving conditions in the day time.
Using your driving mirrors regularly and sensibly is vital to good driving. Learning to judge the speed and distance of vehicles behind you takes time. The use of your mirrors should depend on the manoeuvre you wish to make, and the type of car that you are driving.
Normally, you should always use the interior mirror first, followed by the exterior mirrors. Your use of the exterior mirrors will depend on the move you make and the situation around you. For example, before turning left in slow-moving traffic, your nearside exterior mirror will help you to look for cyclists filtering on your left.
Always use your mirrors in good time, well before you approach a hazard, slow down, change lanes or commence a manoeuvre, then act sensibly on what you see.
One of the few driving rules that is not subject to any exception or qualification, other than in an emergency is "What is behind you?", you should ask yourself
a. How close is the following traffic?
b. How fast is it moving?
c. What is it doing?
d. Is the manoeuvre safe?
It's also important to use your mirrors early enough to allow other road users time to react to any signal you will need to give. Use your mirrors to check their reaction. Although the mirrors help us see better when driving, we need to remember that we all have a blind spot. A blind spot is the area that cannot be seen either when using normal forward vision or when using your mirrors.
Your main blind spots are:
a. The area between what you see as you look forward and what you see in your exterior mirrors
b. The area obscured by the bodywork of your car when you look in your mirrors.
Vehicles of different shapes and sizes will have different blind spots.
Even though you have looked in your mirrors, always look round over your shoulder before moving off to check your blind spot, you never know there might be a cyclist around!
By Rob Morgan at Budgen Motors
http://www.budgenmotorcars.co.uk
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_David_Morgan
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What a great info, thank you for sharing. this will help me so much in my learning.
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