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?!

Well this an alarming read!! My ds rides a motorbike and some of you don't check your blindspot 😮

Of course you need to briefly turn your head to the right and look. That's why it's called the blind spot, because for a brief moment you cannot see what's coming on the right just by using mirrors.

Anyone who doesn't is asking for trouble. Presumably some of the knobs that pull out right in front of me on the motorway think they don't need to look either.

Yes, every single time.

Yes in a car but its not possible in the truck so I do get that you can drive with mirrors alone - i stay well aware of what's around me and tend to wait for a car I've been watching to go past before pulling out.

Always check over my shoulder

I do because many years ago I almost caused an accident and the shock never left me.

Quick google shows that there’s a lot of debate about it online, even among driving instructors. They seem divided.

Previous thread on this came up too - I’m not the only one whose driving instructor taught them not to, it seems.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4486762-driving-question

I've never heard of this and can't remember being told about it by my driving instructor.

A car is without the additional mirrors a modern truck has.

(And the car right behind you is planning to be playing tag with that overtaking cars bumper too. )

I drive for a job and I always, without fail, check my blind spots.

Yep you should know what is around you, but it's easy for something (a bike for example) to pull into the road quickly behind you.

Anybody who says they can see everything in the mirror, there is a video of a lorry driver in his cab looking in his side mirror. He can't see anything. He gets out, walks around and there is about ten cyclists. All in the blind spot!

Always check blind spots! She's very blessed she hasn't hit someone in her blind spot yet, so scary!

I have a Tesla now so it drives itself, but out of habit, I still find myself looking over my shoulder 😅

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.. 🤷‍♀️

anyway at the time I started a thread on MN about this as I thought she must be wrong and the general consensus was that shoulder checks are out dated and no longer taught.

Absolutely yes, always, without fail.

Worryingly though, I do notice a lot of others that don't. So bloody dangerous.

Always but I’ve heard that more recently driving instructors say not to
I always know what car is behind and to the side of me so I can keep an eye on them

Yes I do, always! And I know I’m lax in other areas of driving. Having previously had a motorbike you can tell the drivers that don’t check!
DP was in a serious crash on a motorbike due to someone not checking theirs and nearly died. He’s lucky he didn’t have his leg amputated.

Thanks for this! Maybe the OP will struggle to believe you too 🙄

That’s exactly what DD’s instructor told her. He said she’d fail her test if she looked over her shoulder. She passed first time and didn’t look over her shoulder.

Yes, every single time here too!

Every single time. I vividly recall the shrill voice of the wonderful woman who was my driving instructor who made it her mission to make sure I passed and got my license before I gave birth to my first child (I’m a migrant to the uk and wasn’t taught how to drive in country of origin as everyone has drivers there). She wouldn’t give up on my 5 failed tests. How I salute her.

I only learned to drive a few years ago and both my sons have recently learned and we all had to look over our shoulders.

I do, even though I also have blind spot sensors on my wing mirror. I think it’s just habit.

Yes I do, religiously. DP has just learned to drive, I think he was doing a quick glance but I've drummed into him to properly look!

I've occasionally been on the motorway and my (rearview and wing) mirrors have been clear, but when I've done a last minute over-the-shoulder check there's been a car there - not often, but a couple of times over the years.

I also check when turning left, in case a bike has pulled alongside me.

Those of you whose driving instructor said it wasn't needed - I'm not disbelieving you - but what did they suggest you do instead to make sure there's no-one in the blind spot when you change lanes? Just out of interest!

10 to 2 has been changed. It risks your arms if you crash and air bags deploy.
Should be 9.15 or 20 past 8

Definitely check my blind spot.
PP mentioned upper body moving? I turn my head no moving my shoulders or body required. I can see how turning your body isn't advised but turning head to check is a definite must.

I've had someone pull into our car because they didn't check and have bikers in the family. It's scary how many people think it's not necessary!

This is what a blind spot check is for because you cant. Surely you leant that?!