• officermike@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    16
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    3 days ago

    ITT: a whole bunch of people more worried about scratching or bumping their car in a parking lot than possibly killing themselves or others on a highway with an unsafe lane change.

    Adjust your mirrors so cars approaching from behind in the lane to either side start entering your side mirrors as they start leaving your rearview mirror. There should be a point where you can see one half of a car in the side mirror and the other half in the center mirror at the same time. You should not be able to see your own car. You might not be able to dial this in while parked and might have to adjust on the road, but it’s absolutely worth it.

    If you need to see the lines while parking and your mirrors don’t auto-move in reverse, explore methods that don’t rely on mirrors. I used to park on a long, squiggly driveway. I’d crack the driver door open to see where the edge was while I was reversing, and I could follow it precisely at speed. If your car allows you to crack the door open without shifting into park, give that a shot (you’re wearing your seatbelt, right? Don’t fall out and run yourself over.). Otherwise you could try rolling down a window and peeking out that way.

    • Dave@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      edit-2
      2 days ago
      1. Look before a lane change. Just…turn your head and look. It’s not hard.
      2. Not all cars have great rear visibility. I drive sports cars whose center rear view mirrors have poor visibility. Just look.
      3. A lot of cars have blind spot monitors that buzz or beep when you try to merge into a car next to you.
      4. Scratching and bumping cars in parking lots is a big deal even if it’s not fatal.
      5. Just look, man. Look out the windows.
    • kobra@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      ·
      3 days ago

      lol.

      idgaf how anyone has their mirror adjusted, turn your head and look with your eyes before changing lanes, full stop.

      If you’re in a vehicle that blocks those direct site lines, then you should have multiple side mirrors with blind spot coverage already.