Don't want to start an argument (been enough of that lately), but here's a tidbit to lend perspective (otherwise known as my pet peeve): As a professional tour bus driver (and driver trainer) at one time, we learned the proper way to adjust mirrors on a motorcoach. The short of it is that about the center of the mirror is aimed exactly where the road horizon hits the side of the coach, giving almost only rear vision. The same is true, I'm sure, for semis. Remember, there is no interior rear view mirror possible. So that's how you check traffic behind you, and to the sides near the rear. When driving a bus, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE to look "over your shoulder" and see who is beside you, so you're supposed to always pay attention (which no one in a car does or there'd be vastly less accidents) and always know the traffic pattern around you, ie, where every car is. Not as hard as it sounds, and it becomes second nature. But for safety, all newer coaches have very convex mirrors that show (very tiny) the entire side of the coach and lane beside you. But it's easy to miss a car in that tiny mirror, so it's still important to see in your mind where everything is. Incidentally, those mirrors are used for corners and lane placement as much or more than for traffic control. In my cars I use my mirrors the same way, keep track of traffic, and only look over my shoulder (which I do every time I lane change) as a verification of what I already know, NOT to see what's there. Because accident statistics say that it's too easy to overlook a car, it really is. And that's when you're paying attention. In my vanagon, I mounted a tiny rectangular convex mirror horizontally to help see side traffic. One last detail, at the company where I drove, the blind spot was never an excuse for having an accident. The whole side of the coach is a blind spot. You were never excused for hitting something else because you were always, always, always, expected to know what was around you, and "if in doubt, don't." This included being rear ended, because you most likely contributed in some manner and are expected to avoid accidents. If only car drivers would take a little responsibility too, but that's anti-American, Bill of Got-mine-and-screw-you Rights without Responsibilities. Anyway, off the subject. Ahem. If you aim your mirrors to the side of your van, how will you see what's behind you? Your internal rear view does a piss poor job of showing you the entire picture. That's why your "side view" mirrors are actually called "rear view" mirrors. That's why your neck is designed to swivel. Steve
On 5/6/02 7:06 AM "G. Matthew Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM> said: > Bill wrote: "By the way, how many people out there have their side > mirrors aimed to > the rear, just like the rear view mirror?" > > You aren't alone in this peeve.=20 |
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