Why are shoulder checks a thing while driving?
I move my head slightly (left or right) and look at the side mirror and can see my blind spot, all while keeping peripheral vision on what is happening in front of me, which feels safer than looking away.
Works perfectly well especially for older people with neck issues.
Just a random bedtime thought.
Your random bedtime thought should have just been a shower thought.
My shower thought is that why can't people land on the sun at night? It's colder at night, if it takes 12 hours to get to the sun, leave at noon and get there by midnight where it's the coldest.
I swear NASA is dumb…..
You can land during the day as well with lots of sunscreen.
@zonra: Fantastic idea!
Because how can they see at night when they go? It's very dark in space and the sun won't shine that bright at night.
I think they need SPF 100+ to be fully protected.
We need to work at NASA
Even with a shoulder check, you have blind spots. Up to you if you want to take the risk.
Some people, like myself, learnt to drive pre gadget mobiles. My first car had no side mirrors and a rear vision mirror about 10cm big. Shoulder checking is habitual and safe.
I don't think mirror positioning is included in driver training in Australia. We're sadly obliged to train young drivers to shoulder check to pass their test. The ideal alignment method originates from research paper published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in 1995. If applied correctly, turning to look into the blindzones, which can be uncomfortable and annoying, is no longer necessary. Most people here either shoulder check to compensate for their sub-optimally positioned mirrors or rely on blind-spot driver assistance tech.
you need to get a blind spot mirror dude, I always look into the normal rear view mirrors and blind spot ones too.
and never ever really (EXCEPT when like super rainy, causing blind spot mirror to mist and blur in reflections) needed to do any shoulder check or rotate my head around away from front to the sides for blind spot checking. (and yes sometimes you really do need to confirm your blind spot has no vehicle so you can merge or change lane etc).
Do you know the amount of idiots that have those stupid blind spot warning lights on their mirrors in their cars and still manage to almost nail vehicles beside them? It’s beyond a joke.
I move my head slightly (left or right) and look at the side mirror and can see my blind spot..
They are called blind spots for a reason.
Most cars will have some sort of blind spot even when mirrors are used.
A head check is very simple and effective at reducing your risk of a collision.
Those blind zone systems are a joke on most cars I see. I have seen plenty of time when I'm passing a car and it won't come up on their mirrors until I am about a metre from overlapping them. When I am going faster than them, it is not enough warning.
My blind spot mirrors missed a dirty great semi trailer once - fortunately I shoulder checked before trying to change lanes.
It's kind of odd that in 2024 we still make and sell cars with blind spots, despite having all kinds of camera and screen technology, innovations in mirrors, etc.
It's a good habit anyway to actively check.
How will you fix all the blind spots?
AI in the car that prevents you from changing lanes if there's another car there.
It's called a blind spot for a reason. If you can see somewhere without turning your head it's not a blind spot.
Better safe than sorry. Wouldn't want to risk getting into a preventable accident
You should be familiar with your cars blind spots. And adjust your mirrors and maybe even your seat.
Typically from the left because of the left windscreen pillar (lean forward or back), right mirror might have a blind spot typically when a car (or motorcycle) is up close on your right, and left rear mirror might have similar blind spot.
Are indicators overrated too?
op BMW driver prolly
cars should naturally stay clear of them, like a halo ring around op
no blind spot worries
Its not overrated. Its part of being aware of what is around you on the roads.
I totally agree, the main issue is too many people wanting to make sure their door handles haven't fallen off while driving. If only they knew the power of nut and bolt fasteners and how durable they are.
Here's a tip from everyones favourite auto-man
Idk id say it’s underrated
I dunno dude. Even riding my bike that has nothing obstructing my vision I have blindspots.
Seems like simply checking and moving your head is a low effort move to maybe not killing someone in your maybe its there maybe its not blindspot
Correctly adjusted mirrors shouldn't have blind spots in a car. That came from an advanced driving instructor. He also said you should not be able to see the side of your vehicle in the external mirrors.
Do you see Shane Van Gisbergen turn his head?
Someone here thinks he/she knows more than an advanced driving instructor.
That is a major WORRY.
can see my blind spot
If you can see it, is it a blind spot?
hits blunt
bruhhhhhh
An old Prado has a mirror angle of maybe 10 degrees; they're not convex like modern vehicles. The blind spot will easily fit an overtaking semi trailer.
2 seconds check could save your (or somebody's) life. It worths it.
And save you from heaps of hassles
2 seconds check could save your (or somebody's) life. It worths it.
It may also take yours.
The average reaction time is 1 second and driving at 100 km/h correspond to travelling at 28 metres per second. This means that the average driver's reaction distance at 100 km/h is approximately 28 metres.
In 2 seconds you have travelled 56 metres. Do you keep 58 metres from the vehicle in front at 100kph on a motorway?
Think I have a stalker.
Given that the recommended gap on a highway is 3 seconds, taking 2 seconds to look and 1 to react (if needed), plus accounting for the fact the vehicle in front of you generally wont go from 100 to 0 in that time - you are perfectly safe to head check.
Thats not even factoring in common sense of checking the traffic ahead has no obstructions and is not going to stop suddenly before doing said head check.
Theres a reason its still taught and part of the driving test.
Because it’s the safest method of checking your surroundings thoroughly.
Given that the recommended gap on a highway is 3 seconds,
The magic word is RECOMMENDED.
Not many drivers leave 3 seconds. That's why there are so many nose to tail crashes on motorways.
I've had B doubles that close all I can see in the mirror is bonnet.
@CurlCurl: Thats why you focus on your own driving and not other people’s.
If you notice someone else doing the wrong thing you should drive accordingly (defensively) and make it as safe as possible for you - which includes a head check when you get the hell out of the way of the b double behind you.
If your mirrors are correctly positioned you only need a brief glance to check your surroundings whereas a head turn averts your vision from forward view. Per John Cadogan in the link posted by @Brian McGee, we're (sadly) never going to influence drivers with a fixed mindset.
@sumyungguy: Probably want to convince the DOT before you worry about convincing the general public.
It’s part of general training and licensing.
I spend more time on the road every few years then most people will in their lifetime.
I see all kinds of shenanigans and see people frequently make stupid merge mistakes.
If you are going to crash from a head check, you have done something wrong.
I spend more time on the road every few years then most people will in their lifetime.
You aren't alone there.
If your mirrors are correctly positioned you only need a brief glance to check your surroundings
100% correct.
It was drummed into drivers the 10 and 2 were the hand position for on the steering. Now they say 9 and 3 is ok. Advance driving instructors have been saying 9 and 3 for many many years.
The car in front of you isn't doing 0
Except where there’s a tailback which results in a multi-vehicle nose-to-tail
The car in front of you isn't doing 0
How can you do 0? you can do 1.
Come here for the bargains… laugh at the trolls…
OP if this isnt a troll.. PLEASE hand your license in
Are you serious ? , I have lost count of the amount of times in my last 30 years of driving that I wasn't aware of a vehicle in my mirrors blind spot and only saw them with a head check which I always do before a lane change or merging , it was one of the main things I drummed into my kids when they were learning to drive and they have also told me the same in regards to only seeing the car when doing a head check , anyone who doesn't is just plainly ignorant and a danger on the road and should not have a license.
anyone who doesn't have their mirrors correctly adjusted is just plainly ignorant and a danger on the road and should not have a license.
Fixed it for you.
BTW. Can you see the side of your car in the outside mirrors?
I've recently started driving a Transit for work, not being able to do head check sucks. Two lens mirrors are very good though, one flat one convex. Quick lane changes are not on the cards unlike driving my Metro
.
The blind spot shoulder check serves another function: By turning your head to the side, you will be able to observe other vehicles driving alongside you which may be attempting to change lanes at the same time as you into the same lane. Mirrors do not provide complete spatial awareness. People with restricted mobility with their head, neck and shoulder movements (generally the frail and elderly) are often unaware of their surroundings when performing lane changing and reversing maneuvers.
Agree with all the posters saying shoulder checks are essential when changing lanes. Have lost count of the number of times this has saved me. There are so many idiot drivers who like to drive in peoples' blind spots.
Cars come in different sizes and different blind spot sizes too. Not everyone drives the same car and they need to fully turn their head. For my car, I can't turn my head slightly cause the middle panel is in the way, I need to full turn my head
There are also bikes, motorbikes and scooters you can miss when moving your "head slightly".
Elderly people should get blind spot mirrors and blind spot sensor lights if they have trouble turning their heads. Not to mention, elderly people have slower reaction times too.
Your random bedtime thought should have just been a thought.