Date:         Mon, 6 May 2002 11:08:59 -0700
Reply-To:     Steve Sullivan <steveis@SPEAKEASY.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Sullivan <steveis@SPEAKEASY.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Side view mirrors, was: cheap exterior mirrors and pet peeves
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

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