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?!

If you need to do 'extra chechs' on the school run then you're not driving safely the rest of the time.

does that guy on the motorbike only deserve your full responsibility at school run times?

This is definitely different to what my DC were taught very recently. I questioned DS and he said they use wing/rear view mirrors.

I can only assume posters are getting confused and think the blind spot check involves rotating your head 180 degrees and looking behind you whilst driving at 70mph opposed to a quick glimpse out of the drivers side or passenger window. That’s the only reason I can think of as to why so many are finding it so unfathomable.

All the time!
DP thinks I’m mad but I don’t care - would rather be over cautious

I always check. Once during a concentration lapse I nearly forgot and narrowly avoided hitting an overtaking car that wasn’t visible on my mirror. It’s why it’s called a “blind spot” and my instructor who has an advanced driving qualification, insisted it’s an absolute necessity.

Those who insist the car does it for them, it’s only a matter of time before an electrical fault occurs, so not wise to rely on that method!

I love this feature. Out of habit I still look though.

Cyclists 'motorbike riders use other roads too. It's not just about over taking.

your mirrors help, but you really do need to get into the habit of checking with your own eyes.

if you kill someine (very easy to do with a cyclist or motor bike) 'but I checked my mirrors will be cold comfort tk their family it you!!)

I've been driving 42 years, no accidents, it's perfectly safe to visually check before changing lane if that's what you're taught.& practice.

you are part of the problem, teaching learners not to check. It's disgraceful.

Excellent. It's a shame not all instructors have that much common sense!!

I signal, car will beep if something is in the lane I intend to move into. Far better than me looking for sure.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

Exactly.

Yes, I think you're right. Still scares me such people drive on our rusds & worse still some are teaching learner drivers 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

The people saying they check their mirrors so that is enough. It isn’t an either or situation. You should be doing both. I observe what is behind me in the mirrors but when you are checking all areas sometimes you miss something and need to double check. Recently I knew a motorbike was behind me for sometime but when I went to change lane I suddenly couldn’t see him. Was he left or right of me on a motorway and yes I spent time looking in both my blind spots. And when he did appear he obviously realised I was looking for him as he gratefully signalled a thank you as he passed because I guess lots of drivers would have just moved lanes.

Oh dear, are you sure you should still be teaching ?
It’s perfectly safe to quickly glance over your shoulder !

And agree with other posters. A quick glance in your blind spot is quick and doesn’t involve looking behind you for ages so isn’t dangerous.

My own DD passed her driving test last year and had over the shoulder blind spot checks absolutely instilled into her with the importance of them explained. Her driving instructor is also a motorbike rider so I’d say that he’s experienced the consequences of poor blind spot awareness!

I don’t understand what is so hard about a millisecond long glance over your shoulder. You shouldn’t be relying on technology alone, and if you need to then you shouldn’t be driving full stop!

Its crazy that it is taught so differently! Makes no sense to me. DS passed with no faults so he must have done whatever he needed to correctly.

Yep, over my shoulder and everywhere else.

Same with DD. The test is different in NI though - there are some discrepancies in regulations between us and the rest of the UK. No blind spot checks = a fail here. I don’t know a single young person who hasn’t been taught to look over their shoulder.

I dont understand not being taught it TBH. My car beeps at me but I always glance right.

Yes, saved my life not long after I passed my test 8yrs ago. Like a PP, a sports car came flying out of nowhere and if I hadn't checked, I'd be dead. So I check every time, without fail.

Dd was told this as well. She was strictly told that looking over your shoulder is dangerous as you may drift out your lane. Ive been doing it for 30 years with no drifting..

I think this is a new driver thing and kinda true. I’ve only taught 2 new drivers but both forgot that their necks and head were independent of their hands and arms and upper torso.

After the first harrowing experience I made both stand in the kitchen holding full glasses of water while playing the ‘how many fingers am I holding up’ in their peripheral vision until they learned that their body parts did in fact move independently. 👀

I do, and where I live you would fail your driving test if you did not.

However, I have also lived in a place where if you did check it, you failed your driving test, they took the view that if your mirrors are adjusted you have no blind spot.