Be honest: do you check your blind spot?

[Blueeberry]

I check mine (by quickly looking over my shoulder) religiously anytime I’m changing lane, especially on the motorway. Was speaking with a family member today however who seemed to think that blind spots were some sort of urban myth and insisted that you can see everything by just looking in your mirrors…

When I kindly informed her that no, you can’t see everything in your mirrors she told me that my idea of checking over my shoulder is ridiculous and dangerous, there’s no way that she’d feel comfortable doing it whilst driving. AIBU to think WTF?!

I always look over my shoulder too OP.

Every single time.

You don't need to look over your shoulder, you should know what's around you by constantly checking your rear view and wing mirrors not by looking over your shoulder.

Obviously

You need both. Double check.

Lifesaver glance. Yes I always do it.

I’m going to break it to you that yes, you do. You’d fail your driving test for not looking over your shoulder and checking your blind spot adequately - it was absolutely ingrained into DD by her (ex police, very experienced) instructor.

I do even though if I put my indicators on my camera shows me whats there

Yes.

Yes, because DH rides motorbikes.

My car does it for me, it gives me an alarm if I indicate and something is in my blind spot

I learnt to drive later in life, about 5 years ago. My instructor told me that looking over your shoulder is a no-no, and that you’ll fail your test for it. The thing to do is check mirrors.

However, I do still look over my shoulder now I’ve passed!

This is the opposite of what my instructor told me. Ditto DS’s instructor. I definitely didn’t look over my shoulder during my test!

Not just when you're changing lanes. Any time you're moving off from stationary, exiting a roundabout, opening your car door...

That's great, what happens when it breaks?

There is some truth to this, but I was once driving along the motorway, concentrating well and regularly checking my mirrors as always, very aware of my surroundings. I went to pull into the fast lane, looked over my shoulder to check my blind spot at the last minute (as I always do by habit, since this is what we are taught) and saw a sports car flying along at an absolutely ridiculous speed just behind me. It really came out of nowhere, he was going so fast. If I hadn’t checked my blind spot, I wouldn’t be writing this now. There’s a reason we are taught to do this, thank goodness I did…

Yes, every time. I ride a motorbike too and it's one of the most important things you can do on a bike, so it comes naturally.

DD passed (first time) last year from a very experienced driving instructor who constantly emphasised the point of checking her blind spot and having a quick look over her shoulder. He is also a motorbike rider so makes the importance of a lifesaver look very much known to his students.

That is categorically not correct. I just double checked the driving theory test website and it confirms that you do have to look over your shoulder to check your blind spot. Are you and your son definitely talking about checking over your right shoulder after you’ve checked mirrors and before you move? Because what you have both been told if so, is not correct.

That's not safe enough, people/cars can (and do) appear out of nowhere.

Please, please check.

DS passed first time last year too, with no minor faults. His driving instructor said the same as mine.

Yes 1000000%

I have a tesla that shows me a lot on my screen but I still always check

Highway Code link here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-159-to-203

You absolutely do need to check your blind spot when driving, including when overtaking. And I do. It's a lifesaver.

Yes, not sure how to be absolutely certain I won't hit a motorbike or cyclist otherwise.

I think with all the newer cars too many people are relying on technology for parking & other cues and have become worse drivers as a result. The technology is support to assist rather than replace common sense.