YOUR WINDOWS TO THE WORLD BEHIND

Mirrors & Blind SpotsMastering Your Observations

Effective use of mirrors and understanding your blind spots are fundamental to safe driving. Learn how to see everything around you.

Why Observations Are Key

Your driving test, and indeed every journey, relies heavily on your ability to observe your surroundings. Mirrors are your primary tool for this, providing crucial information about traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians around your vehicle. Failing to make proper observations is a common reason for driving test faults.

Enhanced Safety

Prevents collisions by giving you crucial information about other road users.

Communicate Intentions

Allows you to check before signalling, ensuring your actions are understood.

Pass Your Test

Proper observations are a fundamental part of the practical driving test criteria.

Adjusting Your Mirrors

Before every journey, ensure your mirrors are correctly adjusted from your comfortable driving position.

Interior Rearview Mirror

  • Adjust so you can see directly out of the middle of the back window.
  • Provides a true, undistorted view of traffic directly behind you.

Exterior (Side) Mirrors

  • Adjust so you can see a small portion of your car's side at the inner edge, and a wide view of the road behind.
  • These often have a wider angle, making objects appear further away than they are.

Understanding Blind Spots

Even with perfectly adjusted mirrors, there are areas around your vehicle that you cannot see. These are your blind spots.

  • Typically located to the rear quarter of your car, often obscured by pillars.
  • Motorcyclists and cyclists can easily 'hide' in your blind spots.
  • You must physically turn your head and look over your shoulder to check your blind spots before any lateral movement.

Danger: Failing to check your blind spot is a common cause of collisions and a major driving test fault.

The MSM Routine

Mirrors-Signal-Manoeuvre (MSM) is a fundamental routine you should apply every time you plan to change your speed or direction.

1. Mirrors

  • Check your interior and exterior mirrors to assess traffic conditions all around you.
  • Identify potential hazards and the position/speed of other road users.

2. Signal

  • Only if it benefits other road users, signal your intentions clearly and in good time.
  • This gives them a chance to react to your planned action.

3. Manoeuvre

  • Once you've checked your mirrors and signalled (if necessary), and it's safe to do so, execute your manoeuvre (change speed or direction).
  • This includes changing lanes, turning, pulling over, or moving off.

Extension: For complex situations, consider MSPSL (Mirrors, Signal, Position, Speed, Look) to include adjusting your position and speed, and a final look for hazards.

Key Takeaways

Constant Awareness

Mirror checks should be frequent and routine, not just before a manoeuvre.

Adjust Properly

Ensure your mirrors are adjusted for your comfortable driving position to maximise your field of vision.

Don't Forget Blind Spots

Mirrors don't show everything. Always do a head check before any lateral movement.

Communicate Clearly

Use the MSM routine to signal your intentions, benefiting both you and other road users.