Board 8 > While driving, how often do you check your mirrors?

(+) Yeah! (+)

10 and 2 isn't even the regulated safe steering wheel hand placement anymore. 4 and 8 is.

But I probably look in my rearview mirror every 5 seconds maybe? I only ever do 4-lane highway driving in a pretty slow stretch of highway, and there's nothing else to look at, so why not. I like seeing if there's anyone coming up at 95mph plus so I can wave at them as they pass me.

I don't drive.

You either do this and aren't aware or are a bad driver. Both are common.

Left and rear-view maybe once every few mins if traffic is light to nobody on the road within a few hundred feet behind. Full blown traffic almost constantly so to watch out for people driving recklessly.

MZero posted...

do all you nerdz keep your hands at 10 and 2 at all times too

No way that's crazy neurotic. I do between 9.9 and 10.1 though

But do people keep their headlights on at all times?

After driving this morning it's basically situational as to whether I do or not. In my neighborhood not so much as it's all single lane stuff until 1 3 lane road where I just turn right onto it and stay in lane until the highway. I did check them but nowhere close to every 2-3 seconds.

Once I got on the highway I did for the most part but did it less often in the middle when there was a large stretch of just cruising and no chance of lane change and it wasn't overly busy.

Once I was getting off the highway onto the 3 busy 3-4 lanes roads I need to take to get to work I checked them all the time even though traffic behind me was way back and light and I usually only have to only make the one lane change.

I'd be more interested in seeing how many accidents people have gotten into. I've never gotten into one but most of the people I know have. I've only been pulled over once and it was for having my high beams on unnecessarily. I drove a 2 seater sports car at the time that I always left auto lights on. I apparently knocked the switch getting into the car with my knee and didn't notice (it was like a 5 minute drive home and my wife was upset about something so I was talking to her and didn't notice)

This answer really depends on where I am

Highway I will check sides usually when contemplating changing lanes and rear every 5 seconds or so

suburbs/cities I will check the mirrors more just because theres a lot more that can pop out at you without expecting

rural will depend because you have people who think its cool to go super fast and theres creatures so its always good to check

LiquidOshawott posted...

rural will depend because you have people who think its cool to go super fast and theres creatures so its always good to check

Checking your rear view mirror for creatures? Like what, the T-rex from Jurassic Park?

Paratroopa1 posted...

Checking your rear view mirror for creatures? Like what, the T-rex from Jurassic Park?

animals really

though I suppose it just makes more sense to think just of whats ahead in regards to that >_>

The risk of a deer running across the road is very real in a rural area

Leonhart4 posted...

The risk of a deer running across the road is very real in a rural area

Uh yeah, no shit, now what's the risk of a deer charging your car from behind

Shattered posted...

I'd be more interested in seeing how many accidents people have gotten into.

never been in one. i got my license in 2008, for the record.

If you see one deer, there's a decent chance there's at least one more close by, so being aware that one is out there is helpful.

The only accident I got into was a guy rear ended me while I was stopped at a red light. (And I had been stopped for 10 seconds or so, not like I slammed on the brakes)

Shattered posted...

I'd be more interested in seeing how many accidents people have gotten into.

I've only been in one while in the driver's seat, and it was extremely minor considering the circumstances.

Driving on a busy road with a 50 MPH speed limit. The truck in front of me stops dead instantly without their brake lights going on--the lady driving had rear-ended the person in front of her at full speed.

I slam my brakes and manage to stop juuuuuust short, her trailer hitch just lightly dents my front bumper.

About a week later, my insurance agent calls me to let me know what's going on. The lady tried to claim emotional distress for me hitting her, but the cops interviewed a witness who saw her on her cell phone, and based on the whole "her rear-ending someone without slowing down at all" thing and how minor the damage on my car was, I was let off the hook.

I've been in one accident (almost 20 years ago now), and it was because I fell asleep driving. Thankfully didn't hit another car, and I wasn't hurt at all. I drifted off of the road and hit a sign.

I never really thought about how often I look at mirrors. I pointedly try NOT to look at my left mirror in spring because for some reason wasps nest in there yearly no matter how often I have them cleared out, and I've got some severe vespaphobia.

Peripheral vision takes care of left, constantly glancing at my center, and barely noting my right unless I intend to lane shift.

I totaled my car by rear ending someone cause I was looking at my phone. No one got really hurt though.

But that definitely changed my driving habits.

Isquen posted...

I pointedly try NOT to look at my left mirror in spring because for some reason wasps nest in there yearly no matter how often I have them cleared out, and I've got some severe vespaphobia.

This wins

The responses to this topic really weirded me out so I paid extra attention during my drive this morning - can confirm I only actively check when preparing to change lanes or when I know I'm going to be braking. Seems like what's in front of you should be of far greater concern in every other scenario. Like, why does what's behind you matter with any regular frequency?

Maybe it's a California thing but at least here if you get hit from behind, it's 99.99% going to be the full responsibility of whoever hit you. By contrast you should be far, far more concerned with not hitting anyone in front of you, because if they slam their brakes in the tenth of a second you're looking behind you for some reason, you're probably looking at a doubled premium.

Poster above is spot on. And Im not calling anyone who checks their mirrors an idiot. Just saying its overly cautious of them to check 6 times in one minute. Nervous Nellys.

Since it was brought up, Ive never had a wreck in 21 years of driving the highways and suburbs of Atlanta.

I did get 6 speeding tickets between 18-25yo though. But thats off topic.

Ah, you drive in Atlanta. That would explain it.

Xiahou_Shake posted...

The responses to this topic really weirded me out so I paid extra attention during my drive this morning - can confirm I only actively check when preparing to change lanes or when I know I'm going to be braking. Seems like what's in front of you should be of far greater concern in every other scenario. Like, why does what's behind you matter with any regular frequency?

Maybe it's a California thing but at least here if you get hit from behind, it's 99.99% going to be the full responsibility of whoever hit you. By contrast you should be far, far more concerned with not hitting anyone in front of you, because if they slam their brakes in the tenth of a second you're looking behind you for some reason, you're probably looking at a doubled premium.

No offense but being rear ended sucks regardless if your at fault.

And if you hit someone in that tenth second that means you were following too close

Xiahou_Shake posted...

By contrast you should be far, far more concerned with not hitting anyone in front of you, because if they slam their brakes in the tenth of a second you're looking behind you for some reason, you're probably looking at a doubled premium.

It really doesn't take much time to inspect mirrors with your periphery to ensure nothing substantial has changed with the situation. My following distance is also always good enough that there's virtually no chance I hit anyone in front of me in that given time.

I feel like if I'm not planning to change lanes that checking the mirrors that often isn't just a waste but a mistake. I'm going forwards at speeds faster than any human can run while I'm wrapped up in thousands of pounds of metal. I feel like it's incumbent on me to not hit anything in front of me, and the same applies to everyone else. Do I need some awareness of who is around me? Yes. Should that distract me from what's in front of me? No.

It's such a weird take to think a quick look at your mirrors is more likely to cause an accident than not checking them at all

Leonhart4 posted...

It's such a weird take to think a quick look at your mirrors is more likely to cause an accident than not checking them at all

Not "a quick look", but "a preoccupation with a neverending series of looks every 2-3 seconds regardless of road conditions"

It's not the preoccupation you guys are making it out to be. You're not staring at the mirror like you're trying to brush your hair. It's a rapid look and nothing more.

If you're hitting something because you're looking at a mirror, you're either looking at your mirror for too long or you're following too closely to what you hit, in which case looking at the mirror or not wouldn't have prevented it anyway.

Paratroopa1 posted...

Not "a quick look", but "a preoccupation with a neverending series of looks every 2-3 seconds regardless of road conditions"

The neurotic preoccupation to stare forward unflinchingly is worse.

But no one actually does either of those things.

I like to be constantly aware of my surroundings while driving. I don't really have a countdown or anything, I'm just doing it.

I'm assuming that Tony's training is basically his employer covering its ass. In a lawsuit, they will have to prove they trained you to check your mirrors at a certain frequency.

Or it's a defensive driving course and they're highlighting constant vigilance, which is a good thing.

Yeah, you'll get taught defensive driving in pretty much any job that requires you to drive a vehicle for the company. I know I had to take one when I started working for the post office.

Yeah I did GPS mapping back in the 90s - not only did my job have a lot of value, but it was a lot of fun. One of the best jobs ever. Basically just spent the summer driving every state-maintained road in New Hampshire.