Mirrors are often forgotten by young and experienced drivers alike, but they keep us a lot safer than you might think. Using your mirrors properly is up there on the list of priorities with ensuring you’re properly insured and keeping an eye on your car’s health. According to DVSA statistics, use of mirrors when changing direction is one of the top reasons learners fail their driving test, so getting this right is essential.
But it doesn’t help you much to keep hammering on about how important they are and the fact they keep you safe. You need to know why, how to check them, how to adjust them, and what the dreaded blind spots are. None of us like blind spots, but failing to check them can have serious consequences, and you need to be fully informed when you start driving.
Why Are Mirrors Important?
Your mirrors allow you to get a clear view of your surroundings when you’re driving. You can see vehicles and people approaching from behind, you can see when they are coming up the sides, and you can also get a good idea of potential hazards. They keep you and everyone else on the road safe, and according to the Highway Code (Rule 161), you should be checking them frequently throughout your journey.
The Highway Code states that all mirrors should be used effectively throughout your journey, and you should use them in good time before you signal or change direction or speed. This is part of the essential ‘Mirrors – Signal – Manoeuvre’ (MSM) routine that every driver must follow.
How to Adjust Your Mirrors
Adjusting your mirrors is an important part of the process because a proper adjustment can be the difference between seeing a hazard and missing it completely. If you want to adjust your mirrors, this is how you do it:
- Sit in the driver’s seat and make sure you’re comfortable and everything is easily accessible. This includes the steering wheel and the gear lever.
- Take the rear-view mirror and move it slightly until you can see directly out of the middle of the rear window without the need to move your head or body.
It’s worth noting that door mirrors are convex (curved), which gives you a wider field of vision but makes vehicles appear smaller and further away than they are. This is something to bear in mind when judging the speed and distance of following traffic. For more tips on building your confidence while learning, see our guide on calming your nerves as a young driver.
How to Check Your Mirrors
Now that everything is in place, we can get to the important part – checking your mirrors. The actual action is straightforward: you need to look in them and check your surroundings for any vehicles or hazards. A quick glance should be sufficient – if it isn’t, then a series of short glances is safer than taking your eyes off the road ahead for too long.
According to the Highway Code (Rules 159-161) and DVSA guidance, here are the key situations when you should check your mirrors:
- When you’re pulling away – check all mirrors and blind spots before moving off
- When you’re changing lanes – check all mirrors and the blind spot on the side you’re moving towards
- When you’re overtaking – check all mirrors, paying special attention to the offside mirror to ensure no one is about to overtake you
- When you’re turning left – check interior mirror before and nearside mirror after
- When you’re turning right – check interior mirror before and offside mirror after
- When you’re slowing down or stopping – check your interior mirror so you know if a vehicle behind might fail to stop in time
- When you’re opening doors – check mirrors and blind spots to avoid hitting cyclists or pedestrians
The faster you are travelling, the earlier and more frequently your mirror checks need to be. If you’re learning to drive in busy cities, regular mirror checks become even more important due to the increased traffic around you.
Where Are the Blind Spots?
Blind spots are areas around your vehicle that you cannot see – either in your mirrors or by looking ahead. As the RAC explains, the size of blind spots can vary depending on the type of vehicle and driving position, but the majority have one in the area behind the driver’s right shoulder (in UK right-hand drive vehicles).
The main blind spots are typically the areas between what you see as you look forward and what you see in your door mirrors, as well as the areas obscured by the bodywork of your vehicle. Different vehicles have different blind spots depending on window pillars, head restraints, and mirror size.
So, how do you navigate the blind spots in your car? Here’s the proper procedure:
- Check your mirrors as normal
- Look over your right shoulder to check the blind spot (or left shoulder when moving left)
- Physically turn to look at any other blind spots if needed
- Confirm the path is clear and safe
- Then proceed with your manoeuvre
It’s also important to be aware of where other drivers’ blind spots are and to avoid remaining in them longer than necessary. This is particularly relevant when driving near large vehicles or on country roads.
What Are the Risks of Not Checking Your Mirrors?
Nerves make it easy to forget to check your mirrors during your driving test, but this is one of the most common reasons for failure. According to DVSA data, ‘Mirrors – Change direction’ consistently appears in the top reasons why learners fail their practical test. Not checking your mirrors effectively can result in anything from a minor fault to a serious or dangerous fault, depending on the situation. If you’re feeling anxious about your test, our guide on why new drivers fail their test may help.
Beyond the test itself, not checking your mirrors can lead to collisions with other vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians. Being found guilty of careless driving due to failure to observe properly can result in penalty points, fines, or even disqualification. Your driving instructor will help guide you during lessons so you have plenty of time to build your confidence and make mirror checks second nature.
If you’re learning to drive with your parents, ask them to remind you about mirror checks until the habit becomes automatic.
Getting the Right Insurance
Once you’ve mastered your mirror checks and passed your test, you’ll need to think about insurance. At MyFirst, we specialise in insurance for young and new drivers, with over 100 providers to choose from. You can get a free quote to see how we can help.
