Checking the rear view mirror every 2-3 seconds seems absurd because the situation behind me just isn't realistically going to change that muchThat doesn't make sense. When going 60mph you move at 40ft/s, which is 3 car lengths per second. At 20mph it's still 1 car length per second. You can change a lane in under 3 seconds too.
As often as I feel the need to.
Like... there's no set interval. I'm not counting in my head "one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand... look,"
Not every three seconds, but I do check often
As often as I feel the need to.
Like... there's no set interval. I'm not counting in my head "one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand... look,"
Checking the rear view mirror every 2-3 seconds seems absurd because the situation behind me just isn't realistically going to change that much, unless I'm in a very busy city, which I'm usually not. I think my looking at mirrors is basically entirely subconscious, I just kinda use my peripheral vision to confirm possible dangers behind and around me without thinking.
As often as I feel the need to.It sounds like there is some conscious evaluation you're doing in your head before you look though. As opposed to doing it regularly rhythm, which is totally automatic, like listening to music.
Like... there's no set interval. I'm not counting in my head "one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand... look,"
Yeah this was my first thought. If I notice movement (or dont), if an intersection, turn, or lane change is coming up, etc, but taking your eyes off the road every 3 seconds to look in each mirror seems like anxiety to me lol.Right, I evaluate the necessity of checking the rear view mirror based on whether or not there are intersections or turns that I'm passing. I mean I get people saying '3 seconds is a lot longer than you think' but to that I say, a lot less happens on the road than you think. If I know there are no cars behind me and I haven't passed any places where a car could now be behind me, there is no need to keep flicking my eyes up to the rear view mirror, especially since if there is any car movement behind me I will notice in my peripheral vision. It's far better to keep my eyes focused on the road in front of me because that's where potential unforeseen dangers could be. A pedestrian suddenly crossing the road in front of me is a huge danger; a pedestrian suddenly crossing the road behind me isn't my problem. The only real danger that can come from behind you is a car that might ram into you if you brake too quickly or that might be preparing to pass you and if you aren't a hard braker those threats aren't particularly omnipresent.
Right, I evaluate the necessity of checking the rear view mirror based on whether or not there are intersections or turns that I'm passing. I mean I get people saying '3 seconds is a lot longer than you think' but to that I say, a lot less happens on the road than you think. If I know there are no cars behind me and I haven't passed any places where a car could now be behind me, there is no need to keep flicking my eyes up to the rear view mirror, especially since if there is any car movement behind me I will notice in my peripheral vision. It's far better to keep my eyes focused on the road in front of me because that's where potential unforeseen dangers could be. A pedestrian suddenly crossing the road in front of me is a huge danger; a pedestrian suddenly crossing the road behind me isn't my problem. The only real danger that can come from behind you is a car that might ram into you if you brake too quickly or that might be preparing to pass you and if you aren't a hard braker those threats aren't particularly omnipresent.To clarify, this isn't a "I'm too lazy to be safe on the road" thing - I think being overly preoccupied with the rear view mirror *makes* you less safe. Focus your attention in front of you and develop a peripheral awareness for the possibility of cars in your blind spot by evaluating places they could be coming from ahead of time; that's the best way to be safe, imo. Being overly preoccupied with checking the mirrors is a distraction.
How many actionable dangers can there be behind you?Typically all of them. You control everything in front of you, so all surprises come from behind. Your blind spots are behind you also. The only exception is intersections where dangers come from the front side, and obviously you want to focus on those in that case.
And that's where I'd come back around and say that you're underestimating how much attention off the road 'a quick glance every 3 seconds' takes. Yeah, one quick glance every once in a while isn't a big deal, but if you're worrying about it every 2-3 seconds you're distracting yourself. What are you actually looking for? How many actionable dangers can there be behind you?
What is going on in my rear view mirror that I need to be aware of? Maybe I'd check it more on the highway to see if someone is about to pass me or something but I feel like I'm only looking in the rear view mirror if I need to change lanes.
Rear mirror every ~2-3s sounds right
Left mirror every ~5-10s
Right rarely unless I really need to
I love the rear since you can see both left/right at once, with much better depth perception. It's a bad habit though because the back is often blocked. And most cars have a tiny useless rear window, so if I'm driving a rental or something I have to adjust to using the right mirror more..
And that's where I'd come back around and say that you're underestimating how much attention off the road 'a quick glance every 3 seconds' takes. Yeah, one quick glance every once in a while isn't a big deal, but if you're worrying about it every 2-3 seconds you're distracting yourself. What are you actually looking for? How many actionable dangers can there be behind you?This is only an issue if youre actively thinking and worrying about it. Even doing shit like just walking can be an issue if youre actually thinking about every step you take.
This is only an issue if youre actively thinking and worrying about it. Even doing shit like just walking can be an issue if youre actually thinking about every step you take.
I posted before reading the topic throughbut after reading, this topic is full of a bunch of nervous Nellys. The brunt of the danger while driving is definitely in front of you and to your immediate sides. Theres hardly anything behind me that concerns me unless Im stopping quickly or a butthead is up my six.Right. A tailgater is a danger, but knowing they're there is really all you can do if they refuse to pass you - if you have a tailgater behind you then the danger you need to watch for is actually ahead of you - you need to not get surprised by anything that would make you brake suddenly.
I posted before reading the topic throughbut after reading, this topic is full of a bunch of nervous Nellys.
In my opinion, the rear view mirror isn't really important unless you're changing lanes.*And obviously when you're backing up but I hope nobody thinks I'm this stupid (although when you back up you should really turn to look through the back of the car, better view)
And obviously when you're backing up but I hope nobody thinks I'm this stupid (although when you back up you should really turn to look through the back of the car, better view)
I don't really know how often I actually check the mirror - it's basically second nature at this point that it would be like asking me how many times a minute I breathe in an out, I'm not thinking about it.It's prob every 2-3 seconds like every other decent driver. So you really don't need to keep typing so much.
Okay I will grant that a busy multiple-lane highway is different - which is because the status of how many cars are behind you DOES change frequently and those cars can try to pass you suddenly.