let's motor

[red_delicious]

I'm shopping for a blind spot mirror...you know, those super-size rectangular rear view mirrors that clip on to your existing mirror so you can see those bastards who like to block you from getting where you want to go.

Came across this new technique by Click & Clack of Car Talk:

Set your side- and rear-view mirrors to eliminate blind spots

Comments

[chutoy]

I'm somewhat surprised that anyone sets their mirror to look at the back corner of the car. I think someone missed teaching me that.

Of course the other solution is to be the fastest driver on the road. Then you never need to worry about who's behind you. Unless of course they're flashing red and blue lights.

[red_delicious]

i remember being taught that by my driving instructor...like proper side mirror placement was to have a margin of paint showing on the near side of the mirror, and to have the horizon slicing the mirror in half lengthwise.

[dwell]

i've been following the click & clack mirror adjustment advice for years now and i can say that it really works well. i'm able to keep my eyes scanning front much better with just quick checks to my mirrors rather than having to swivel my entire head. it took me maybe a couple of days to get used to it but i never do blind side checks in a car... or at least not until i started riding a motorcycle, which got me back into the habit. :T

for the ginormous rear-view mirrors, the ricer stores in SF or SJ should carry a good enough assortment. "auto freak" in SF's japantown is where i got my girlfriend's rear-view.

bt

[frstjade]

i picked up a wide rear-view mirror at a japanese grocery store :P

[baulz]

you should wait for those cars that have sensors on the sides that alert you to objects in your blind spot.
i thought of getting one of those gigantic rear view mirrors for my previous car (i can't for my current car because it's auto-dimming and has a compass) but i have a hard enough time banging my forehead against regular-sized rear view mirrors when i'm cleaning my dash as it is.