How to properly adjust mirrors in a car? tips for the driver


Good day to all! Today we will talk with you about how to adjust rear view mirrors. Typically, motorists set them up as they see fit, believing that everything is done correctly.

But in practice it often turns out that not everyone knows how to adjust external and internal mirrors. Experts have developed a special system that allows the driver to make the correct adjustments in the car.

To be frank, the driver must learn to look in the mirrors as part of his training at a driving school and at the race track, after which they move on to real conditions. It’s not for nothing that before driving, even for an on-site test, the instructor monitors how the driver prepares for the start, deducting points if he has not adjusted his mirrors.

I’ll tell you about some of the nuances and give some recommendations that I myself have heard and received from experts in this field.

How to restore a mirror with your own hands?


Case with a soldered patch You can restore the car mirror yourself.
To do this you will need the following tools and materials:

  • soldering iron;
  • material with which the seam will be reinforced;
  • patch if necessary;
  • putty for plastic;
  • structural paint;
  • sandpaper;
  • solvent;
  • spray gun.

First of all, the patch should be adjusted to the shape of the lost piece. When it snaps into place with minimal gaps, you can start soldering. During soldering, you need to heat the edges and try to pull them inward. For reliability, you can solder a strip of the same material on top. The seam must be reinforced.

To reinforce the seam, you can take a piece of automotive wiring. Having cleared it of insulation, you need to lay it across the seam and solder it into the seam, connecting the edges. Soldering must be done along the entire seam. After soldering, it is advisable to warm up the insert with a hairdryer. Then you should rub off all excess plastic with sandpaper. Sanded seam, putty. After puttying, the surface is sanded again and coated with a primer for plastic. At the final stage of do-it-yourself restoration, the structure is painted with structural paint.

Popular cars


A question that is relevant for many drivers, especially for beginners, is how to properly adjust the mirrors in a car for the best view. After all, this is not at all easy, and you need to know the setup technique, which we will talk about in this article. If you look in the side mirror and see the rear wing of your car, this means that the mirror is not adjusted correctly. With this mirror arrangement, most of the area behind the car is visible both in the side mirrors and in the rearview mirror. At the same time, the area next to the car is very poorly visible and creates the risk of an emergency. Adjusting the left side mirror
Lean to the left until you almost touch the side window. Adjust the mirror so that you can see the rear wing of the car (as shown in the picture). When you sit in your seat as usual, you will practically not see the side wing of your car in the mirror.

Adjusting the right side mirror

Lean to the right so that your head is in the center of the car. In the mirror you should also see the rear wing of the car (see picture).

Adjusting the rear view mirror

The center of the rear view mirror should be in line with the center of the rear window.

Test Drive

After driving with mirrors configured in this way, you will notice that there are much fewer “blind” spots. You see the car in the rearview mirror, and if it starts to overtake you, then you still see part of it in the rear mirror, and part of it in the side mirror. Thanks to this, it is easier for you to change lanes, and the risk of an emergency situation is significantly reduced.

Some useful tips:

1. At first it will be very unusual for you to drive with mirrors configured in this way. But wait a week and you will get used to it so much that you will not understand how you drove differently before.

2. Be careful when parallel parking. With this alignment of the mirrors, you need to turn your head more and lean away to see both the side of your car and the car next to it.

3. Constantly glance at the mirrors, and not just at the moment when you want to change lanes. This manner will allow you to constantly be aware of the situation on the road and correctly make sudden unexpected maneuvers (for example, when you go around a hole).

A few important warnings:

1. Do not adjust the mirrors while driving.

2. Even properly aligned mirrors have blind spots. And sometimes it’s better to take a quick glance over your shoulder when maneuvering, so as not to hit, for example, a cyclist or motorcyclist. Looking over your shoulder gives you the information you need that you will never get by looking even in properly aligned mirrors.

Have a nice trip!

source…

Rear Visibility

Many manufacturers attach interior reflectors to the windshield of cars. But on some models they are located above the frontal surface. To obtain a wider view, a number of motorists incline their choice in favor of spherical reflectors with vertical dividing stripes.

However, it is better to avoid using them, since the image in them is greatly distorted. As a result, it is impossible to determine the distance to the vehicle behind you. And this often leads to accidents, as well as other troubles on the road.

Proper adjustment of the rear view mirror comes down to the following:

  • How to properly adjust the mirrors in a car - recommendations from a driving instructor
  • To begin with, the driver needs to take his usual position in the seat, making the necessary adjustments.
  • Now, being in a comfortable position, look into the cabin reflector.
  • The rear window should be completely visible.
  • If a large part of the ceiling is reflected, the reflective surface must be lowered down.
  • One more point - part of the driver’s face should also be reflected in the rearview mirror (or at least the ear).
  • Ideally, the driver does not need to sit up in order to see what is happening behind his car.
  • When a small part of the headrest is visible in the reflective element, this also fits into the normal conditions.

Setting up is not difficult, but it should be taken into account that the adjustment is carried out for the driver. In the case where several people in a family use a vehicle, each of them must make individual adjustments before going somewhere on business.

How to adjust rear view mirrors

Each motorist, depending on the car model and physical data, will have individual settings for their rear-view mirrors. However, before you start driving in someone else's car, you need to carefully adjust the mirrors.

The Society of Automotive Engineers proposes a special algorithm for adjusting mirrors. By following these recommendations, you will be able to eliminate “dead” zones.

  • Experts have determined that the viewing angles of the external side mirrors should overlap the visibility area of ​​the interior mirror. To achieve this goal, you need to rotate the mirrors so that the horizon behind the car is as visible as possible. In this case, the side surface of your car should not be visible. This setting completely eliminates the formation of “blind” areas.
  • The main problem for many car enthusiasts when following the recommendations of the Society of Automotive Engineers is getting used to the unusual position of the mirrors. The absence of even a small section of your car in the reflection leads to some confusion. However, you need to adapt to this setting, then there will be no passing invisible cars while driving.

How many reflectors are there in the car?

Regardless of the model of the vehicle (its model, status, class, etc.), they all have at least three reflective surfaces:

  • How to Adjust Car Mirrors: A Quick Guide
  • side reflectors (there are two of them - left and right);
  • salon reflector.

Thanks to their correct alignment, a complete picture of what is happening behind the machine is created. However, one thing worth considering is that the area closest to the vehicle will still remain uncontrolled.

Useful tips

Recommendations from experienced drivers will help you cope with minor problems when adjusting mirrors:

  • For the first few kilometers of the journey, it will be unusual to drive a vehicle with correctly configured mirrors. However, after a couple of days of driving, you will realize that this option is much better and more convenient!
  • When parallel parking a car, you should turn your head more to fully see the side of the car. Extreme caution will help avoid accidents.
  • You need to look in the rearview mirrors constantly, and not just during the next maneuver. If you move suddenly, the car following you may end up in your blind spot. The useful habit of looking in the mirror will help you avoid many problems on the road, for example, when going around a large hole.

Important! Try to never adjust your mirrors while traffic is moving. The situation on the road changes quickly, the car can jump out from any direction

If the mirrors are not adjusted correctly, it will lead to an accident.

As a result

Knowing certain nuances of adjusting rear-view mirrors allows you to create safe conditions for yourself and passengers, including other road users. This usually takes no more than 5 minutes, in extreme cases - 10. Experienced drivers spend even less on this - 1-2 minutes.

If the car is equipped with electric mirror drives, then the whole procedure becomes even easier and more convenient. Because such a pleasant option will certainly please novice car enthusiasts.

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The content of the article

Good day to all! Today we will talk with you about how to adjust rear view mirrors. Typically, motorists set them up as they see fit, believing that everything is done correctly.

But in practice it often turns out that not everyone knows how to adjust external and internal mirrors. Experts have developed a special system that allows the driver to make the correct adjustments in the car.

To be frank, the driver must learn to look in the mirrors as part of his training at a driving school and at the race track, after which they move on to real conditions. It’s not for nothing that before driving, even for an on-site test, the instructor monitors how the driver prepares for the start, deducting points if he has not adjusted his mirrors.

I’ll tell you about some of the nuances and give some recommendations that I myself have heard and received from experts in this field.

Side reflector adjustment procedure

Let's start with how to properly adjust the side mirrors, and then move on to adjusting the other reflector. One can argue endlessly about which of the two reflectors is more important - the right or the left. However, it is worth considering that each of these reflectors performs its own duty.

The result of correct settings is manifested in providing a single panorama with a minimum of blind spots, as well as their complete absence. Although the latter is unlikely. As for their adjustment, it is carried out with slight differences for each reflector.

Left reflector

Before adjusting the reflector on the left side, the driver must ensure a correct and comfortable fit. The main thing is maximum comfort. After all, if you initially adjust the reflective surfaces and then move on to adjusting the driver’s seat, you will have to start all over again.

After a comfortable landing, it's time to start setting up. For this purpose, the corresponding instructions are provided:

  • Tilt your head to the left, touching the side window. In this position, the rear wing of the body, as well as the doors, should be reflected in the mirror. Otherwise, it must be adjusted until the indicated elements appear in the visibility zone.
  • You can return to the original position, now only the extreme part of the rear wing is visible - this is how it should be.
  • The setting can be considered completed correctly when a small area of ​​the sky is visible in the reflector (no more than 40%), and the majority of it is the road surface (60%). A visual line drawn along the center of the reflector will allow you to give a rough estimate of the percentage of the mentioned zones.

With this type of reflector setup, some drivers for some reason tilt them closest to the car body in order to see its entire side surface. However, it should be understood that visibility on the left is seriously limited (or even completely eliminated). Thus, you may simply not see a car that has begun to overtake or traffic that is crossing behind you.

Right reflector

When driving on the right, control using the right reflector was generally not used. But you can’t do without it when you need to overtake or go around an obstacle on the left. Correct configuration is performed in this order:

  • Tilt your head to the right until it takes a place in the middle of the cabin. The rear wing of the body should also be reflected in the mirror.
  • Take a normal and comfortable position - now only the edge of the wing is visible. This indicates that the reflector is adjusted correctly.
  • For the right reflector, the relationship between earth and sky also applies. Just a little different - 70 to 30.

The entire procedure is identical for both reflectors. That is, when you tilt your head, the entire wing of the car should be reflected, and with a straight, habitual landing, only a small part of it. You should also ensure that the body does not block your view.

The importance of mirror adjustment

By receiving a detailed picture with the help of mirrors and additional equipment, the driver will be able to respond in time to any emerging danger and avoid an accident or damage to his own car when parking. Therefore, adjusting mirrors is considered a mandatory measure for every driver.

A special role in the process of driving a vehicle is given to interior mirrors, which allow you to control the rear perimeter. It is from behind that collisions with other cars or various objects most often occur when parking, as well as during sudden braking.

Therefore, the overview obtained from the interior mirror is of vital importance for every car enthusiast.

To increase the rear view angle, manufacturers install an additional parabolic surface.

To do this, select a place above the standard mirror. In combination, such products allow you to expand the panorama and thereby help the driver to react instantly to any dangers or objects emerging from behind.

However, one cannot help but take into account that such parabolic mirror surfaces are characterized by curvature, which distorts the distance between your car and objects behind. It takes some time to get used to such an image.

To ensure that your car mirrors are adjusted correctly, you need to perform a check. The driver in the cabin, with the help of another person walking around the car at a distance of a couple of meters, must control his every movement using mirrors. If the assistant’s silhouette does not disappear even for a moment, then the settings were made absolutely accurately.

Interior mirrors are especially helpful in orientation for drivers, allowing them to avoid rear-end collisions.

This is especially important when traveling on highways. After all, one collision on such highways can cause a whole series of accidents with huge casualties

If the side mirrors break or crack, they need to be replaced in a timely manner.

Nowadays the car market offers a huge selection of various modifications of such mirrors. They have different shapes and additional options that make them easier to adjust. In addition, the products differ in the materials used.

Therefore, such items should be purchased with special attention. If the car owner makes a mistake in his choice, he risks his own life

Branded automobile concerns have special divisions that work directly on the development of new modifications of mirrors. Today there are already models that are equipped with video cameras. They make it easier for drivers to control while driving on particularly congested highways.

Thanks to innovations in the automotive industry, automatic washers have been created, so that mirrors no longer have to be washed by hand. Such innovative models can reduce the glare effect - they are equipped with special heating systems that prevent the formation of frost or ice on the mirror surface. The defrosting process occurs due to the energy supplied from the battery. Installing such models will save you from unnecessary hassle and increase safety on highways.

Video on how to adjust car mirrors:

Blind area

If you do not use special panoramic mirrors, or additional small mirrors that are installed on top of the side mirrors, but use only standard ones, then you will always have a blind spot. That is, an area that you cannot see either through windows or mirrors.

From the picture you can see that the blind spot increases to the right and left as you move away from your car in a direction perpendicular to the side of your car. You see cars driving close to you in one way or another - either through peripheral vision through the windows, or through the side mirrors. Therefore, cars in adjacent lanes do not completely fall into the blind spot, and in a blind spot located across the row from you, a car or even a truck may disappear entirely.

The only way to combat the effect of blind spots is to turn your head in the direction of changing lanes. The turn should be quick and your eyes should be directed out the rear side window. Therefore, every lane change should begin with a look at the mirrors, turning on the turn signal, turning your head and only then moving.

You should always turn your head for control, but experienced drivers do this only for control. Since an experienced driver constantly monitors the situation and it is obvious to him that if a car was driving behind him, but now it is not visible, then the car is in the blind spot.

When driving, you need to remember not only your own blind spots, but also those of others. Try not to drive in the blind spots of other cars, especially trucks. Either leave the car behind or overtake.

Make it a rule not to move away without checking your mirrors.

Most often, they forget to adjust the mirrors after parallel parking, when they were tracking the distance to the curb.

Universal interior mirror


Many electronics manufacturers offer universal interior mirrors with an expanded range of functions.
They are designed to be mounted on top of the standard mirror. Many electronics manufacturers offer universal interior mirrors with an expanded range of functions. They are designed to be mounted on top of the standard mirror. Nowadays, most automakers have similar developments, but they all run into a common problem. And this is not at all a problem that a mirror overloaded with capabilities requires non-verbal communication and distracts the driver from driving.

Change the laws!

Six years ago, when Google set out to create a prototype of a self-driving car, it was forced to equip cars with mirrors, although the “self-driving car” still had nothing to look into. But otherwise the project could not be tested on public roads.

Optical illusion: Car side mirrors distort objects.

On many cars, on the right side rear view mirrors you often see the inscription “Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear,” which translated from English means “Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.” Many car enthusiasts wonder why many car manufacturers mark the right rear view mirrors with such markings? If you think that this is an ill-conceived element of the car company's designers, then it is not so. This is actually done for safety.

The reason why car companies put warning labels on their mirrors is due to simple laws of physics (optics section). Indeed, unlike the left side mirror, the right mirror is much further away and the driver sees the view from it from a completely different angle.

So, according to the laws of physics, light is reflected from a flat surface at exactly the same angle at which a ray of light falls on the surface. That is, if the outgoing light hits at an angle of 45 degrees, then your eye will be able to see this light if your eyes are located where the reflected light also passes at an angle of 45 degrees. This is called a “focal point” or simply focus.

Automakers have long exploited these physical properties of light by making side mirrors flat. Mirrors are manufactured flat so that the reflected light exactly follows the angle of the outgoing light that arrives on the plane. True, mirrors are made with a slightly changed focal point. This reduces the viewing angle. The driver, being in the driver's seat, sees an acceptable image in the right mirror.

The distance from the driver's eyes to the left mirror, as a rule, is no more than 90 cm. This is not much. The fact is that we look at the left mirror from a completely different angle. This is why in most cases the left mirror is almost flat. Another thing is the right mirror, the distance from our eyes is twice as great as the left mirror. In addition, the view in the right mirror is carried out at a different, sharper angle, which does not provide a clear view of the reflected objects if the surface is completely flat.

Therefore, the right side mirrors in many cars (depending on the country of production) are not flat, since otherwise we would only see a small section of the road and a small part of the cars in it. This would form a “blind spot” in which even a heavy vehicle would become invisible.

To compensate for the incorrect angle and the long distance to the right mirror from the driver's seat, manufacturers produce right mirrors with a convex shape. Typically, the mirror has a small convex in the center that widens the focus so that light falling on a curved surface is concentrated in the center and is almost completely accessible to the driver's eyes at a certain angle.

But, despite the fact that manufacturers have figured out how to solve the problem of optimal visibility through the right mirror, there are also disadvantages. While a flat surface generates an accurate image of reflected objects, a curved mirror surface offers a wider field of view, but at the expense of visual clarity of the reflection. Since the right rear view mirror has a convex shape, the image in the center is first compressed and then enlarged due to reflection, which makes the reflected image smaller and further away than it actually is. That is why a warning is written on mirrors that the reflected objects in the mirror are actually closer than they appear.

On the other hand, convex mirrors improve the driver's visibility by eliminating many blind spots that cannot be seen, making convex mirrors a better alternative than flat mirrors. It is worth noting that not all car manufacturers use convex right-hand mirrors. This is why some cars do not have such a warning sign.

Important nuances

Let's start with him. They serve to provide the motorist with a panoramic view while in the driver's seat. Moreover, this is true for cars with left and right-hand drive. Only the recommendations should be applied slightly differently.


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If you have a left-hand drive, follow these instructions very carefully. If the car is right-hand drive, then the advice on the left side mirror is applied based on the right mirror. And vice versa. I think you've got this point figured out. But in general, right-hand drive cars are a separate topic for discussion, since they are not adapted to our traffic regulations. Too many problems arise. Especially when trying to overtake another car. But let's leave these conversations for another thematic material.

First, keep in mind that cars can be equipped with 2 types of mirrors. Moreover, they can use an electric drive or a mechanical type of drive, where a special lever or joystick is responsible for the settings. Here you need to work manually. I think each of you will understand, using your own car as an example, what to press and where.

Electric ones are more convenient, but are not found on all cars. But everywhere there is the possibility of adjusting the position.

When operating a car, consider what type of mirror is located on the sides of the car.

  • With a spherical surface. Their characteristic feature is the ability to distance objects. That is, they create the impression that the car is further away from you than it actually is. It creates a deceptive effect, distorting the reality of what is happening. Not the best option. And if you have similar mirrors on your Polo or other car, many advise replacing them;
  • With flat glass surface. Such designs are the most optimal for learning to look and adjust mirrors without distorting reality. They are considered the most suitable for car use, since they can cover the entire road.

Having decided on these questions, you can proceed directly to the settings.

Best Touch Screen Rear View Mirrors

Vizant 930K

The video recorder has at its disposal an additional navigator, a GPS informer about the cameras of the traffic police structural services and an intelligent system for protecting the car from intrusion. It is possible to install a SIM card with Internet in the device; in addition, it can serve as a Wi-Fi distributor. The highest resolution digital camera can be directed both forward and backward. The device supports memory cards up to 32 GB.

Viewing of the image is available in real time on a miniature MultiTouch touch display with a diagonal of 5 inches. The active display can be turned off at any time, and the device becomes a full-fledged interior mirror, which does not interfere with the owner’s view of the situation behind his vehicle.

Based on feedback from registrar owners, we have created these advantages:

  • Huge screen;
  • Android 4.2 system;
  • High image resolution;
  • Reliable fastening design;
  • System for notifying the owner of car intrusion.

Minuses:

High price.

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TrendVision aMirror

This device is the flagship among all mirrors. It has a huge number of functions that even for an advanced user may seem strange. Features include Android operating system, touch screen, Wi-Fi and much more. This is an excellent option for those who want to have a hybrid device that is not limited to video recording, or have only a multimedia system. This device can also be a navigator, a speakerphone, or even an entertainment tablet.

Under the mirror component there is a screen with 5-inch sensors. The package is complete, and users had no problems with compatibility. Files from the device can be transferred via wireless transfer to any smartphone. We can only complain about the sharpness of the video recording, but this is also a minor drawback.

Based on feedback from device users, we have identified the following advantages:

  • High resolution video for recording (1920x1080);
  • Screen 5 inches;
  • Large viewing angle of 170 degrees;
  • Built-in microphone.

Minuses:

High cost of the model.

KAIER KR75DVR

The user has at his disposal two very important functions in one device - a mirror with a 4.4-inch LCD screen and a video recorder in HD quality. Thanks to its electronic filling, you will be able to control the situation not only in front, but also behind the car. Due to its dual-channel nature, the device is capable of working with several cameras simultaneously.

The main advantages of the device:

  • Excellent video recording resolution;
  • Price-quality ratio;
  • Several modern sensors that monitor movement and shock;
  • Doesn't take up much space on the car windshield.

Flaws:

In night video recording mode, the device sometimes acts up.

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5 best 3 in 1 DVRs

Avis AVS0461BM

This mirror has a monitor with a diagonal of 4.3 inches and a resolution of 480x272. You can install the device using universal mounts on top of a regular mirror. With the help of a reflective surface, the DVR can perform the functions of a salon mirror.

This model has two video inputs, thanks to which you can use two cameras simultaneously. Connects to rear view cameras using a CVBS interface. If you were looking for a display that is not inferior in quality and reliability to flagship designs, this model is perfect.

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Based on reviews of people who used the Avis model, we identified the following advantages:

  • Operating mode – automatic;
  • The mirror is protected with anti-reflective coating;
  • As many as three CVBS inputs;
  • The fastening is reinforced with rubber gaskets.

Flaws:

Slight distortion of the image in the mirror.

Types of mirror recorders and features of their choice

If we talk about the types of modern mirror recorders, then they will differ from each other in the available functions, that is, in the electronic filling. Simpler and cheaper models only have a recorder function. Expensive options may have a radar detector function, a navigator, a parking camera and others. Prices vary from approximately 1300 to 14 thousand rubles, the main price range is 2–7 thousand rubles.

When buying a recorder mirror, you need to focus on how much money you are willing to spend and what functions such a device should have

Characteristics that you need to pay attention to when choosing a mirror recorder:

  1. Parameters of the main and parking video cameras. The quality of shooting depends on the resolution of the camera. Budget options have cameras with a resolution of at least 720x480 pixels, while expensive models have cameras with a resolution of at least 1920x1080.
  2. Recording format. Almost all modern devices are designed to work with video files in AVI or MP4 format, which is why recorders work in this format.
  3. Viewing angle. It is recommended to buy devices with a viewing angle of at least 120°. There are models with viewing angles from 90 to 160°.
  4. Monitor diagonal. It is usually between 2.7 and 5 inches.
  5. Frame frequency. In order for the video to be produced smoothly and not jerkily, the frame rate must be at least 25 per second.
  6. Shock sensor. This function allows you to record all impacts. For example, while you were away from the parking lot, someone hit your car - this will be recorded.
  7. Parking markings. It appears on the screen when you turn on the rear camera and makes parking much easier.
  8. The presence of a built-in battery, in which case the device can work in autonomous mode.
  9. Possibility of high-quality video shooting in the dark.

Advantages of the mirror-recorder:

versatility. It can be installed on any car model; compact sizes. Since the entire device is located in the rearview mirror housing, foreign elements and wires do not impair visibility; appearance

The design is almost no different from a simple rear-view mirror, so it fits organically into the interior design and does not attract the attention of thieves;

ease of installation; ease of use; multifunctionality; presence of anti-reflective coating. The driver is protected from the possibility of being blinded by the headlights of a car moving behind; autonomy if there is a built-in battery; ability to record at night

To do this, the device must be equipped with infrared illumination; reliability of information storage. Since everything is recorded on a MicroSD card, even if the device is seriously damaged, all information is saved; price. Since the device combines several modern gadgets, its cost will be cheaper than if you buy different devices separately.

Although the recorder mirror has many advantages, like any other device, it has some disadvantages:

  • the need to select a device taking into account the mounting features of the standard mirror;
  • in some cars the rear view mirror is not secured very securely, so it may not withstand the weight of the new design;
  • in cheap models, low-quality clamps or rubber bands are used for fastening, so there is a possibility of the device disconnecting while driving on our roads;
  • If one of the devices in the composition fails, then all other functions stop working.

Despite the presence of some shortcomings, most car enthusiasts still speak positively about the recorder mirror, since using one device is much more convenient than several.

Why is proper setup so important?

Most drivers think that they are purchasing a car with correctly installed mirrors. In practice, the situation is different. By adjusting these elements, visibility improves. Areas that were previously inaccessible are opening up.

Side mirrors play an important role in safe road traffic. They prevent collisions with objects when reverse gear is engaged. With their help, the driver can monitor all obstacles located behind the car.

This allows you to maintain the normal condition of the vehicle, the life and health of the people in it.

Basic knowledge

You won't be able to neglect the tuning process if you understand the purpose of proper tuning - reducing blind spots. A dead zone is a space on the side, behind or in front of the car, which, during a natural driving position, is hidden from the driver’s eyes and is not displayed in the rear-view mirrors. Controlling blind spots is especially important when changing lanes in heavy traffic. When another vehicle is in the blind spot, this means that it has not yet appeared in the field of peripheral vision, but is no longer visible in the reflectors.

Since reflective elements in a car are always installed at an angle, and are often convex in shape, the degree of reflected objects depends on the distance to the mirror element and the viewing angle. That is why the setup begins with setting the correct position of the driver's seat and taking your usual driving position.

Is the stereotype true?

You need to configure mirrors according to the principle - reflections should not duplicate the same information, but complement each other.

In the left corner it is clearly demonstrated that the incorrectly adjusted right mirror element shows the position of the car, which is clearly visible in the central reflector. The Community of Automotive Engineers came to this answer to the question: “how to adjust mirrors in a car” back in 1995 experimentally. It is worth recognizing that this method of adjustment goes against the usual recommendations of experienced drivers. The latter recommend adjusting the mirrors in the car so that the convexity of the rear of the car is displayed in the near corner. This position of the rear view mirrors has a right to life, but only in the case of drivers who do not feel the dimensions of their car. The unusual setting not only makes it difficult to reverse and park, but also prevents a novice driver from quickly developing a road situation in his head.

The photo clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the mirror position, which is unusual for most drivers. With the traditional setup of fig.2, we see that the red car has left the driver's field of vision and is in the blind spot. An incorrectly adjusted reflector fig.5 displays a green car, which is unnecessary, since it is visible in the central mirror. When configured correctly, there is no blind spot on the left side of the driver, and a green car appears in the right side mirror as soon as it disappears from the central reflector.

To adjust, you need to place the car among static objects according to a pattern close to the images. To be able to double-check the correctness of the settings and remember the approximate position of the mirrors, so that later they can easily reproduce it.

Balance, useful tips

In some cars, getting rid of blind spots is extremely difficult or even impossible. Fortunately, there are not many such cars. It is worth recognizing that reflectors set in the described position can in some cases make driving difficult. Therefore you can:

  • if necessary, immediately before parallel parking or driving in reverse, install a rear-view mirror on the side (in the traditional way). A slight downward slope will help you see the curb better. Never make adjustments while moving! Therefore, immediately after parking, you need to re-adjust the mirrors, since then in a hurry you can simply forget about it;
  • When reversing, when you are sure that there are no obstacles on the right side, you can only navigate by the mirror closest to you. It’s more convenient to move this way, and in addition, later from the parking position you will have to reconfigure only one reflector;
  • install additional side reflectors that will be aimed at blind spots.

Now you know how to properly adjust your car mirrors.

Instructions

It is not always clear to novice motorists, and sometimes even experienced drivers with many years of experience, how exactly the side mirrors should be configured. Most often, this need arises when driving someone else's vehicle. Rear view elements are used to determine the driving situation at certain points:

  • when starting to move from a standstill;
  • in a parking lot when maneuvering and to make sure that there are no cars behind you;
  • when rebuilding;
  • during braking or a complete stop of the car;
  • when driving in reverse;
  • when overtaking passing traffic.

According to traffic rules, all vehicles starting to move must first allow all passing traffic to pass. When performing any maneuver on the road, it is important to ensure that it is safe and that it is a priority. If the mirrors are not adjusted correctly, visibility will be impaired and it will be unclear whether there are cars behind you.

Almost all cars have three reflectors. Thanks to them, the driver assesses the road situation around him. Most often, the interior mirror is placed in the center of the windshield, allowing you to monitor not only the situation in the cabin, but also what is happening directly behind the car.

Each of the side mirrors has its own variable radius. Thanks to this combination of mirror elements, you can cover more space. The driver will be able to accurately track the situation to the sides and behind. All reflective elements must be configured so that each of them complements the overall picture and allows you to understand what the situation is behind.


You can see traffic from behind in these mirrors

It is important to remember that there are blind spots in the immediate vicinity of the car. If another car drives into it, it will not be visible.

How to properly adjust car side mirrors

In order to minimize “blind areas” and before adjusting the side mirrors in your car, remember that the same objects should not be reflected in different mirrors. If you see a car in the interior mirror, then you should not see it in the outside left mirror. That is, all mirrors should complement each other, and not duplicate the same picture. In the mirror you need to see the side of your car, but only part of it - so that in the mirror the rear wing with its dimensions does not take up more than a quarter of the volume. The rest of the mirror should reflect the space behind you

Due to this, you will see all the necessary objects behind you, and this is very important both when driving along the highway and when maneuvering when you need to reverse

To adjust the left mirror, you need to lean towards the window and adjust the mirror in this position. Before adjusting the right mirror of the car, you will need to lean towards the passenger seat and in this position adjust the outside mirror on the right. By doing this you will expand the viewing area around the car and reduce the area of ​​“blind spots”. But you should always remember that you need to constantly look at the mirrors while driving, and not just before performing the maneuver. Also, do not forget that it is better to look back once and get comprehensive information, since mirrors do not provide complete data about the situation on the road.

Determining the traffic situation

The need to know how to adjust the mirrors in a car often arises when you have to get behind the wheel of someone else’s vehicle. Therefore, not only novice car enthusiasts, but also people with relevant experience are interested in how to do everything correctly, in order to avoid many troubles.

Proper setup allows you to correctly assess the road situation in the following situations:

  • Pulling away. In this case, you need to make sure that there is no car behind. According to traffic rules, any vehicle that has started moving is required to give way to other moving vehicles.
  • Overtaking or maneuvering. Before you start overtaking, you should make sure that another car has not started doing the same. If the reflectors are poorly adjusted, it is impossible to determine whether someone has started to overtake the car or not.
  • Changing lanes.
  • While braking or stopping the vehicle.
  • Before opening the door (driver's or passenger's).
  • Reversing.
  • Proper parking.

For this purpose, not only the side reflectors are adjusted, but also the interior element. Taken together, this represents a reliable package for achieving the best visibility.

Adjusting the mirror in the cabin

This element is also important when driving a vehicle, as it allows the driver to obtain complete information about the situation occurring behind the vehicle. To adjust it you need:

  1. Sit comfortably in a chair.
  2. Position the mirror so that the rear window can be seen completely.
  3. Adjust the tilt angles so that the axes coincide with the axes of the rear window.

In fact, in this mirror the driver should only see the rear window of the car, nothing more. Many drivers mistakenly believe that it is used so that passengers can be seen. Therefore, when adjusting it, they try to grab the passenger seats, but this should not be done. This is one of the important tips for the driver on how to properly adjust the mirrors in a car, because many people do the opposite. As a result, visibility in the interior mirror is limited, and this should not be the case.

First need

Adjusting the mirrors should never be neglected for your own safety. Most car enthusiasts are convinced that their car is configured in the right way, although in reality this may be a mistaken feeling.

Because when the reflective surfaces are adjusted correctly, the visibility of the area behind the car increases. In this case, everything that was previously hidden from view is visible. In addition, it is more convenient and safer to park or back up, avoiding damage to the vehicle itself.

It is for this reason that you need to understand the need to properly configure reflectors. This in turn allows you to keep the vehicle intact. In addition, the driver himself and all passengers in the cabin will be safe.

Special abilities

Regardless of where you install the DVR, you can make the most of its capabilities. Special functions include the following:

  1. G-sensor. Its activation indicates a vehicle collision. In this case, photo recording is blocked to avoid overwriting by a third-party device. The file must be deleted manually from the memory card; the sensitivity of the sensor is adjusted in the setup menu.
  2. File blocker. Serves to protect materials from accidental deletion or overwriting, configured manually.
  3. Parking management. After activating this option, you can detect external vibration effects, after which the recorder will turn on for 15-20 seconds, followed by shutdown if no problems are detected. In this case, the video material is blocked automatically.
  4. Motion detection. This option is similar to the previous function; in stand-by mode, it allows you to identify the action directly from the setup menu. The XX symbol will appear in the central part of the screen, indicating the possible movement of a third-party object within a radius of three meters from the vehicle. In this case, the DVR starts automatically recording for 15-30 seconds.
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