can you eliminate blind spots?

[mikehrz]

we all know that the thick D-pillars make looking over your left shoulder pretty pointless. i'd heard about this technique for adjusting the mirrors before, but as i just started driving, i'm not sure if it would work or not. taken from http://www.motorists.com/right/adjust_mirrors.html

What is the solution to tunnel vision and blind spots? Simply adjust the sideview mirrors just beyond the point where you could see the side of the car on the inside edge of the mirror. With this setup, you almost completely solve the blind spot problem. To adjust the outside mirrors this way, follow these two steps: (This of course, is for vehicles with an inside mirror)

For the driver side mirror, roll up the window and press your head against the glass. Adjust the mirror so that you can just see the edge of the car.
For the passenger side mirror, place your head in the center of the car (directly behind the inside mirror mount) and adjust the outside mirror so that you can just see the edge of the car. This is necessary even with convex (curved) mirrors where the image is distorted a little.
When you're in your normal driving position, you won't be able to see the sides of the car but will be able to see other vehicles in the adjacent lanes.

For those times where there is a vehicle present in the other lane that isn't visible when checking the mirrors, the other vehicle's position will probably be such that its front is adjacent to your door and you'll spot it in your peripheral vision as you check the sideview mirror.


anyone tried this? does it work?

[2step]

I had heard of this way of adjusting the side view mirrors about 10 years ago. I've done it this way since. Works great for me. I've told others and some get it, some sort of give me a blank look. New drivers that haven't developed bad habits yet, just build it in, right from the start when you explain it to them.
I do a running check almost every time I drive. I'll watch a car, approaching from the rear to see if I can see it in both my center rear view mirror and side view mirror and then my side mirror and peripheral vision as it overtakes. And vice versa with cars I pass. I'm lookin for blind spots.
I like to know where cars are located around me at all times. On multi-lane highways, I try to position myself with an openning in traffic on each side of me in case I have to make a sudden lane change. That's my comfort spot. This adjustment technique is very helpful.