How to adjust your car mirrors to avoid blind spots

[DanT]

Earlier today another driver almost got hit cutting into my lane. This was in West Sacramento, CA, where Westbound US Hwy 50 ends by blending into I-80. (From the perspective of someone on US Hwy 50, which stays more or less straight, the I-80 drivers are merging into our lanes.) When I got behind his sea-green Prius with Illinois license plates and saw that I could see his reflection in both of his side-view mirrors, it made me think there might be some folks on the Planet that could benefit from information on how to properly adjust their car mirrors to avoid blind spots.

https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...d-blind-spots/

P.S. On the opposite side of the highway, where eastbound US Hwy 50 begins, is a sign that includes the amusing information that Ocean City MD is 3,073 miles away. https://www.capradio.org/articles/20...-md-3073-sign/

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Frazod

My only (and there won't be another) experience with Sacramento came on the drive from Yosemite to Reno. After being stuck behind poke ass morons on winding two lane roads for a week, I decided I would be happier getting to an interstate as quickly as possible, so I headed west to I-5 an took that to I-80 east for what I assumed would be a less annoying drive. WRONG. I-5 was a nightmare. Heavy, shitty traffic, and everybody drove like they were getting paid to **** with me. Empty spot in front of a vehicle which is maintaining a constant speed, but the second I turn on my blinker to shift lanes the driver instantly speeds up to cut me off. That happened repeatedly. It wasn't that they were overly aggressive; they were just dicks. I was also introduced to the motorcycles allowed to drive on the shoulder thing, apparently at unlimited speeds. The first one must have been doing about 100 when he blasted past me while I was at a standstill in heavy traffic. I'm not going to lie, it scared the shit out of me. Of course I've seen people on motorcycles do crazy/stupid things before, but not that.

Once we got on eastbound 80 outside of Sacramento things became normal again. But that was one of the worst driving experiences I've ever had. Definitely should have went back through Lee Vining on 395.

Lol, that's definitely CA driving for you. Especially the bit about learning not to use your turn signals to indicate a lane change. Stupid SoCal idiots immediately try to speed up and cut you off, every time. And if you have the temerity to speed up and make the lane change, it's flying birds and screaming at you for the next five minutes while they try to get ahead of you so they can cut you off again.

And the people on bikes are crazy. Saw one slam into the back of a Ford Aerostar doing about 90. The van was doing about 25. Biker was flying down the dotted line, and about four or five cars ahead the van just pulled into the next line right as the biker flew by me. Never had a chance.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by ROYC75

I've always opened my eyes in blind spots. Found out I wasn't blind!

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Lol, that's definitely CA driving for you. Especially the bit about learning not to use your turn signals to indicate a lane change. Stupid SoCal idiots immediately try to speed up and cut you off, every time. And if you have the temerity to speed up and make the lane change, it's flying birds and screaming at you for the next five minutes while they try to get ahead of you so they can cut you off again.

And the people on bikes are crazy. Saw one slam into the back of a Ford Aerostar doing about 90. The van was doing about 25. Biker was flying down the dotted line, and about four or five cars ahead the van just pulled into the next line right as the biker flew by me. Never had a chance.

When the first lunatic biker passed me I was smoking, and had my arm out the window. The guy missed my elbow by a few inches. Had he actually hit it at that speed my severed forearm would have probably landed in Oregon.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Frazod

When the first lunatic biker passed me I was smoking, and had my arm out the window. The guy missed my elbow by a few inches. Had he actually hit it at that speed my severed forearm would have probably landed in Oregon.

Living and driving in CA for 8-9 years made me hyper-aware of bikers. Saw far too many bike wrecks and broken/lifeless bodies living there.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Living and driving in CA for 8-9 years made me hyper-aware of bikers. Saw far too many bike wrecks and broken/lifeless bodies living there.

Worst one I saw was in Norfolk back in the 80s, a couple of blocks from my apartment in Oceanview. Didn't see the wreck itself, but somehow the biker went airborne and hit the bottom of a stoplight, killing him instantly. His head stuck in the bottom light (those things are much bigger than people realize) and his body just dangled there until they got it down. Very ****ed up. I saw it from a distance and had no desire to inspect it closer.

Some things you can just never unsee.

[007]

Been doing this for years