Mirrors

Mirror, Mirror on the wall…   …Who’s the best driver of them all?

 

The simple answer is “The one who regularly checks all of their mirrors”.

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According to UK law, all cars must have at least two mirrors that offer an adequate view of the rear of the vehicle. One of the operational mirrors has to be the offside rear view mirror. That’s the one that’s attached to the driver’s door. If that gets damaged, then it’s illegal for you to drive your car. So that’s the legal requirement, but it goes way further than that.

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One of the most common errors I pick-up when sitting alongside a driver is appropriate use of their mirrors. Advanced drivers will know all about the driving ‘system’ known as IPSGA, with the ‘I’ referring to Information, or if you like OBSERVATION. Most living things survive by observing what is around them. So why is it that so many drivers hop merrily into their motor vehicle, with the first priority seemingly to switch on their ICE and select their favourite BOOOOOOMMM track at 11 on the volume knob? Either that, or elect to clear as small an area of windscreen as possible on a cold and frosty morning so that they can get going for work so as they’re not late! Does that remind you of anyone?

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Yes I hear the old fella in the corner of the room shouting out “Well I’ve been driving for over forty years now and never needed to check my mirrors yet, so I don’t see why I should start now”…..And yes that is a real quote relayed to one of my Observer colleagues on an assessment drive. I can’t imagine how many motoring incidents he might lay claim to have seen, but never knowingly have been involved in a single one!

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It’s really not that difficult. Get into the habit of checking your mirrors every few seconds. You’ll be surprised what suddenly appears – or disappears without trace!

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When approaching a hazard such as a junction or roundabout, pay particular attention to your door mirrors, especially your passenger mirror if turning left… “Where on heaven did that cyclist come from?!?” …and with the latest changes to the Highway Code an error like that could cost you, the driver, dearly.

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If you are on a motorway or dual carriageway then you should be checking your mirrors even more regularly and here it is absolutely essential that you regularly check your driver as well as passenger door mirrors. You wouldn’t believe the stunts some people will pull off on a multi-lane highway just to try and get somewhere quicker!

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I could go on, but that is the gist of my advice to you. Maybe it’s time you got out that copy of Roadcraft: The Police Drivers Handbook to recap on all of the good pointers it contains.