How to Utilize Vehicle Mirrors

Vehicle mirrors are crucial to everyday driving and especially when traveling. Mirrors allow you to see all around the vehicle to better understand where traffic is and assist in making driving decisions. Vehicle mirrors also help you park properly, back into spaces and avoid collisions with objects and people.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Inspect all of the vehicle's mirrors for damage or misalignment. Look at the angle of the mirror on the outside of the driver and passenger's doors and adjust for proper viewing. Each mirror must allow you to see to the side and to the rear of the vehicle clearly.
2. Clean each mirror with a commercial glass cleaner to remove any smudges or dirt. Use a soft cloth dampened with cleaner and gently rub away any contaminants. Clean mirrors at least once a month or at every vehicle wash.
3. Adjust the interior driver's rear view mirror located on the center windshield area. This mirror allows you to see through the rear windshield. Never let foreign objects block this mirror.
4. Install travel mirrors on either side of the vehicle when you pull a travel trailer or other trailer behind the vehicle. The mirrors help you utilize the larger style mirrors and assist in seeing the end of the trailer.
5. Use small round spot mirrors that attach to the side mirrors. These mirrors assist you with seeing the car's blind spot. The dome-shaped mirrors provide a 360-degree view of the vehicles around the car.

Tips & Warnings

• Objects that appear in the mirror are typically closer than they look. Use proper judgment when you change lanes after consulting the vehicle's mirrors.
• Briefly look through the rear window when verifying the possibility of changing lanes.
• Consult driver's manual for proper mirror usage for the particular vehicle make and model.