The Importance of Checking Your Mirrors While Driving

When you’re behind the wheel, there’s one action that stands out as vital for your safety and the safety of others: checking your mirrors. While it may seem like a simple task, consistently monitoring your mirrors is key to ensuring that you’re fully aware of your surroundings. This practice is more than just a recommendation—it’s an essential part of defensive driving and a habit that could save lives.

1. Maintaining Awareness of Surroundings

Your mirrors—rear view and side—serve as your eyes on the road behind and beside you. They allow you to see vehicles or obstacles you might not otherwise notice, which is crucial for maintaining situational awareness. By frequently glancing at your mirrors, you can anticipate what other drivers are doing, which allows you to adjust your actions accordingly. For instance, noticing a car rapidly approaching in your blind spot means you can wait before changing lanes or adjust your speed.

2. Changing Lanes Safely

One of the most common instances where mirror checks are essential is when changing lanes. Before switching lanes, you should always check both side mirrors and your rear view mirror. This ensures there’s no vehicle in your blind spot and that it’s safe to make the maneuver. A failure to check your mirrors can result in collisions with vehicles you didn’t see coming, often with serious consequences.

3. Preventing Rear-End Collisions

The rear view mirror is especially important when driving in traffic, as it allows you to keep track of vehicles behind you. If you’re aware of how closely another driver is following, you can adjust your speed or prepare for any potential hazards. In addition, noticing that another car is coming up behind you too fast can help you avoid sudden braking or swerving that could lead to a rear-end collision.

4. Avoiding Blind Spot Hazards

We all have blind spots—areas around our car that are not visible through mirrors alone. By checking your side mirrors frequently, as well as using your vehicle’s built-in systems like blind spot monitoring (if available), you can avoid pulling into lanes where another vehicle might be hidden. A quick glance to your side mirrors, especially before making turns or lane changes, is critical in preventing accidents.

5. Backing Up and Parking

When reversing or parking, checking your mirrors (as well as looking around) is necessary to ensure there are no pedestrians, objects, or other vehicles in your path. Side mirrors help you keep track of your proximity to other parked cars or objects, while the rear view mirror assists with seeing what’s directly behind your car. A failure to check mirrors in these situations can result in minor bumps, or worse, significant accidents.

6. Responding to Road Hazards

Mirrors also help in responding to road hazards. Whether it’s debris on the road, a construction zone, or a vehicle driving erratically, checking your mirrors allows you to see how these issues may affect your driving. For example, noticing a swerving car in your rear view mirror might prompt you to adjust your position or speed to avoid a potential collision.

7. Improving Defensive Driving Skills

A key component of defensive driving is anticipating potential hazards before they become a problem. By checking your mirrors often, you’re putting yourself in a better position to react to sudden changes in traffic conditions. This awareness can help you avoid accidents by giving you enough time to make informed decisions and avoid risky situations.

8. A Habit for Lifelong Safety

One of the most important reasons for regularly checking your mirrors is the development of a good driving habit. This habit ensures that you are always aware of what’s happening around you—something that not only keeps you safer but also helps keep your passengers and other road users safe. By making mirror checks a part of your driving routine, you improve your ability to make quick, confident decisions when navigating the roads.

Conclusion

Checking your mirrors is not just a mundane task—it is a vital part of safe and responsible driving. By staying vigilant and frequently checking your rear view and side mirrors, you create an environment where you are fully aware of your surroundings and can take timely action if necessary. Remember, safe driving is about being proactive, and good habits behind the wheel can make all the difference when it comes to preventing accidents and staying safe on the road.

Can i take my own car to my driving test?

In short, Yes you can take your own car to test. This is providing the car meets the DVSA requirements.

The vehicle must meet these regulations:

• No warning lights showing
• There must be no damage to the tyres, they must meet the legal tread depth. You must not have a space saver spare tyre fitted
• An extra interior rear-view mirror for the examiner
• BE ROADWORTHY
• Passenger seatbelt and passenger head restraint for the examiner SLIP-ON  TYPES ARE NOT ALLOWED
• Be able to reach 62mph at the minimum and have a MPH speedometer
• L plates to be fitted on the front and rear of the car
• Have 4 wheels and meet the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of no more than 3,500 kg

Tax and insurance:

• Must be taxed
• Have an up to date MOT
• be insured for a driving test (check with your insurance company)

If your car has the following features, you cannot use them during the test:

• self-parking
• Tesla autopilot
• your own sat nav

Tinted windows

Your windscreen and front side windows must follow the rules for tinted vehicle windows.

There are no rules for rear windows, but your test may be cancelled if they are too dark for the examiner to see clearly.

Dual controls

If you’re using your own car, it does not need to have dual controls.

Some cars cannot be used in the test because they do not give the examiner all-round vision.

You cannot use the following:

• any panel van (cars without rear seats or rear side windows)
• BMW 218 convertible
• BMW Mini convertible
• Ford KA convertible
• Smart Fortwo (2-door)
• Toyota iQ
• VW Beetle convertible

Always check the DVSA website to be certain your car is test worthy.

Displaying your knowledge of the stopping distance is an important part of the Theory test and Practical driving test.

This article will feature how to calculate a safe stopping distance, looking at how road conditions and speed can affect your breaking as well as each vehicles unique breaking ability.

Reaction time is an important factor, this means how quick you react to sudden road changes or accidents.Mental alertness, influenced by factors like sleep quality and stress levels, plays a huge role. While a sharp mind can significantly improve reaction times, mental fatigue or anxiety can hinder performance.

Thinking distance is the distance a vehicle travels during the time it takes for the driver to perceive a hazard, recognize that action needs to be taken and decide what the necessary action is, before applying pressure to the brakes.

Braking distance depends on how fast a vehicle is traveling before the brakes are applied, and is proportional to the square of the initial speed. This means that even small increases in speed mean significantly longer braking distances

As a rule, you should leave enough distance between you and the vehicle in front; in normal weather conditions, follow the two-second rule and leave a two-second gap. When the weather is bad and you are traveling on wet roads, this will affect stopping distance and you should keep a greater distance from the car in front, because it will take you longer to stop.

Typical stopping distance for different speeds:

20 mph > 3 car lengths

30 mph > 6 car lengths

40 mph > 9 car lengths

50 mph > 13 car lengths

60 mph > 18 car lengths

70 mph > 24 car lengths

Environmental conditions can significantly increase stopping distance. If there is poor visibility, the roads are wet or icy, or the roads are uneven, it will take you longer to stop.

Other factors that have a significant impact are tyre wear and the size of your vehicle. Heavier vehicles significantly affect overall stopping distance.

A free driving course is to be offered to elderly drivers, to help ensure they can continue to drive as they age.

It is said to be targeted at older motorists to help them maintain their driving independence for as long as possible. The Safer Essex Roads Partnership scheme has been created to help people over the age of 70 – born before 1954 – stay confident in the drivers seat, growing their confidence when dealing with different driving situations. Such as traffic volumes and speeds.

The course would not act in anyway as a driving test or impact the participants current license, it is solely designed to aid confidence.

The scheme can be adapted to the individual including the following :

• Navigating roundabouts and junctions
• Driving on motorways and dual carriage ways
• Driving at night
• improving knowledge on road signs and markings

The following is from The Safer Essex Roads website:

The Safer Essex Roads Partnership has brought together organisations across Greater Essex, to provide a road safety service.

SERP partners comprise Essex Police, Essex Fire and Rescue Service, Essex County Council, Southend City Council, Thurrock Council, National Highways, The Police Fire & Crime Commissioner for Essex, The Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust, The East of England Ambulance Trust and The Safer Roads Foundation.

Our aims

The partnership’s purpose is to lead on the reduction of death and serious injury on Essex roads towards zero. This is an ambitious vision and one which we cannot tackle alone – each road user plays a part.

We have set a challenging interim target to reduce death and serious injuries by 70% from the baseline average of 2005-2009, by 2030. This equates to fewer than 415 deaths and serious injuries.

By 2022, a 40% reduction had been achieved, with 822 deaths and serious injuries recorded for the year.

The reason for the ambitious target is that 826 lives cut short, permanently changed, or involved in serious injury resulting in hospitalization and time off work each year, is far too high. Many more lives – of the families and friends of those injured – are also changed in the instant their loved one is injured in a road traffic collision.

In 2023, there were 41 deaths, 819 serious injuries (more than two per day) and 2,795 slight injuries (more than 7 each day).

Research indicates that for every injury collision reported to the police, there are 10 damage-only collisions, so that’s over 100 crashes in Essex every day.

Our plan

We promote road safety and casualty reduction through a number of activities, interventions, programmes and products, which involve a combination of education, engagement, engineering and enforcement. You can find out more about how we will aim to achieve Vision Zero, through our Vision Zero strategy.

At Britannia we offer refresher courses which is also tailored to the individuals driving needs.

Here in Great Britain we have been driving on the left hand side of the road since 1835, but recently one maneuver has come become a hot topic.

The right turn has been labeled ‘the most hazardous’ according to data collected by The Department Of Transport. Although it appears to be seen as a simplified maneuver compared to the likes of a three-point turn or parallel parking, turning right quite commonly will involve cutting across a flow of opposite flowing traffic,it is commonly referred to as a CAT – cutting across traffic.

Whilst the majority of the world drive on the right, The UK Government considered switching to the right in 1969 but rejected the idea because of safety issues and the huge cost involved.

The research was carried out by Vehicle component marketplace Ovoko, they have stated motorists should be careful when conducting this maneuver.

Waiting for a safe gap is always the best option, ensure you take your time to be sure it is suitable to make the right turn.

Evidence suggests that a reason we drive on the left may have arisen from Ancient Roman times, as a matter of safety. One theory stems from when it was believed the best way to drive was on the right as the majority of the people are right handed so driving or riding on the left would mean they could wield a weapon in there dominant hand if they crossed path with an enemy.

Traffic data and information supplier Inrix has published a report 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard which indicates London has the most congested roads in Europe for the third year running. Motorists went through 99 hours on average in traffic in 2023, an increase compared to 97 hours the previous year. The report concluded that the roads in London are only just behind New York and Mexico. Both China and India were not included in the report.

Author of the report, Bob Pishue, said: “We are seeing travel return to pre-Covid levels.

“The UK and Europe have seen smaller increases in congestion this year than in other parts of the world which indicates that these countries have found their new travel norms.

“While London remains most impacted by congestion in the UK, its drop to third suggests that other large global cities have returned to pre-Covid levels of activity.

“As an indication of strong economic activity, increased congestion can be a positive sign for cities.”

The report indicated that the time spent in traffic was up by 3% when compared to levels from before the pandemic.

The fact levels continue to rise means more drivers have to factor in added time to their journeys and commutes, which of course is a frustrating factor added to most peoples mornings. This is also combined with added fuel for most motorists.

There has been talk of park and ride schemes being implemented which although will be a costly outlay, will help cut the daily traffic build up.

The other concern is the raising level of pollution due to the congestion.

London Air say:

“Diesel cars, trucks and buses emit particularly high concentrations of fine soot and large numbers of very toxic substances coat these particles. Toxic substances are also found in the coarse particles formed from brake wear and road surface abrasion and these particles are re-suspended in the air by moving traffic.”