To see vehicles in your blind spots, you should check:
Answers
The inside rearview mirror.
The outside rearview mirror.
Over your shoulders.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is “Over your shoulders.”
Explanation:
Blind spots are areas around your vehicle that are not visible through your mirrors. To safely change lanes or make turns, it’s important to check these blind spots to ensure there are no vehicles or obstacles you cannot see in your mirrors. While mirrors are essential for driving, they do not provide a complete view of the space around your vehicle, particularly in the areas to the sides and rear. This is where shoulder checks become crucial.
Why Over Your Shoulders?
When you look over your shoulder, you are directly turning your head to check areas that your mirrors do not cover. This is the most effective way to spot vehicles in your blind spots. Mirrors can be misaligned, or vehicles may be at angles where they’re out of the mirror’s view. For example, a car in the adjacent lane that is slightly behind you might not be visible in your side mirrors, but turning your head will give you a clear view of that area. By performing a shoulder check before changing lanes or merging, you ensure that no vehicles are in your blind spot.
Importance of Mirror Adjustments
Though inside and outside rearview mirrors are necessary to monitor traffic, they can’t replace a shoulder check. The inside rearview mirror shows the traffic behind you but does not capture what’s happening in your blind spots. Similarly, the outside mirrors provide a view of the lanes next to you, but they have limitations in showing areas directly behind your car, especially for vehicles that are close to your vehicle or coming up from behind.
In conclusion, while mirrors help you monitor the surroundings, checking over your shoulder is the safest and most reliable method to spot vehicles in your blind spots before making maneuvers on the road.