How to Adjust Car Mirrors

Though this may seem obvious and useless in the face of newfangled detection systems, I think it falls under the category "if it doesn't work, did you check whether it was plugged in?"

Last week as I was commuting home after a VERY long day, I saw a Lexus SUV hit/swipe a Honda Fit as the Lexus was attempting a lane change from the express lane to the middle lane--apparently not noticing the Fit. So much for expensive SUV detection systems, you might say. They smashed each other good and had to stop over to exchange info. I was actually surprised the Fit didn't flip over.

This is why it's important to have your mirrors and your blind spots in check at all times folks.

So without further ado, here's the great article by Car and Driver titled Adjust your Mirrors to Avoid Blind Spots. Some of the highlights include:

• The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) published a paper in 1995 suggesting how outside mirrors could be adjusted to eliminate blind spots. (!)
• Adjust the mirrors so far outward that the viewing angle of the side mirrors just overlaps that of the cabin’s rearview mirror.

Check the article's graphic out for clarification -- it makes SENSE and it's EASY. Gonna do it next time I'm in the car!