Unit Three Subject 6 - Hazard Routine: Step 3 - Mirrors

Unit 3 - Basic Skills:
Home page

1 - Show/Tell:
1. Overview

2 - Drivers Eyesight:
1. Introduction
2. Eye checks
3. Eyesight problems
4. Project

3 - Cockpit Drill:
1. Introduction
2. The drill
3. Explanation

Using Gears:
1. Introduction
2. Observation
3. Selective gear changing
4. Smooth changes

Hazard Routine:
1. Introduction
2. Easy starting point
3. Mirrors
4. Signals
5. Manoeuvre
6. Project

Hills:
1. Introduction
2. Downhill safety
3. Parking
4. Uphill starts
5. Downhill starts

Junctions:
1. Introduction
2. Emerging
3. Approaching
4. Approaching right
5. Crossroads
6. Roundabouts

Moving off:
1. Introduction
2. The basics
3. POM Introduction
4. Prepare
5. Observe
6. Brake tests
7. Stopping
8. Summary

Show/Tell:
1. Overview

Mirrors

The video above shows an example of mirrors when turning left taken from the Watch, Learn, Drive video series for learners. (Note that the 'step' number shown in this this and the following videos for the Hazard Routine differs from the steps in this course.)

Check your mirrors often so that you know what's behind at all times; make specific checks before you give signals, change direction, slow down, stop overtake or open your door.

The reason for always checking your mirrors before you do anything else is simple, you are asking yourself if your intended manoeuvre is safe. With this in mind, you must use your mirrors effectively and act upon what you see.

If your intended manoeuvre is not safe, you may need to change your mind and take an alternative course of action. You must know how your manoeuvre will affect following vehicles well before you give a signal, start to change your position or alter your speed.

Red light example...

You will perhaps agree that it's important to check your mirrors before stopping at a red light, it's what you have to do, but why is it important?

Could you convince a friend (or learner driver) about the importance of mirror use in a situation where they think that it is unnecessary? In the example of a red light they might say something like "It makes no difference because I have to stop regardless of what's behind."

If you fully understand why you are using your mirrors it will be easy to justify mirrors at red lights and in any other situation if you have an argumentative friend or customer.

When approaching a red traffic light, it's important to check your mirrors because:

Emergency vehicle? There could be an emergency vehicle behind. If this is the case you might have to adjust your stopping position by pulling in, mounting the kerb, or taking some other action.
Tailgater? There may a vehicle following dangerously close – this could affect the way you use your brakes and spread the braking effort.
Lights changing? The lights might change; if they do you need to know that it is safe to accelerate.
Imminent danger? There is a remote possibility that there could be a vehicle with failed brakes behind. If this happened you would need to get out of the way, possibly by crossing the red light in an extreme emergency.

More than one mirror!

In the MSM routine 'mirrors' is written as plural.

Use your mirrors in pairs, or threes, generally starting with the interior mirror and then whichever of the door mirrors (or both) will give appropriate information for your manoeuvre.

Notice the wording above: 'generally starting with the interior mirror' – there may be times, for example on a bend, when your interior mirror will not give the appropriate or sufficient information.

The usual reason for using an interior mirror first is because it gives a true representation of distance; 99% of interior mirrors are flat glass whereas many door mirrors are convex. Convex mirrors distort images and make things appear to be further away than they actually are – always bear this in mind, especially when considering an overtaking manoeuvre on multi-lane roads.

Being an experienced driver, you will have almost certainly become used to the convex mirror effect, but it's important to remember that the new drivers you will be working with do not have your experience – this is why all of these things need to be considered consciously, the best time fr this is when working on your own driving.

Using mirrors effectively

Simply glancing at your mirrors from time-to-time does not constitute effective use! You must use the mirrors actively.

When you look into your mirrors you are actively searching for relevant information and clues regarding what might happen next and how it will affect your intended manoeuvre.

You will be asking yourself questions like

"Will the car behind overtake?"
"Is the other driver responding to my signal?"
"What's happening two or three cars back?"
"Will the cyclist try to overtake on the left?"

Remember that although we say above that you should generally start your routine by using your interior mirror it will not always give you the best view. While a routine of starting with your interior mirror is good for driving discipline and the forming of good habits, it's important to gain maximum information about any danger that might be present.

Exterior mirror first example

If you intend to turn right from a main road to a side road where the side road is located on a left-hand bend, your interior mirror and right door mirrors might not give you the information you need to proceed safely. In this instance you would need to check the left door mirror for effective observation of the situation behind.

Not only before your manoeuvre!

To drive safely you need to be gathering information all the time. This means before, during and after any manoeuvre.

The final mirror checks will be to ensure that it is safe to proceed and if appropriate, to increase speed. If the manoeuvre is one that requires an increase in speed, the final check will be after the speed increase to ensure that it is safe to sustain the speed.

Next: In Step 4 we look at giving signals.