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?!

Every single time, it’s just habit (and a good habit at that!). When I changed car a while back there is an indicator in the side mirror which tells me if something is there but I always still check to make sure

Yes!

Recently drove an unfamiliar van and kept trying to look through the side panel, because the check is so ingrained

Absolutely. Every single time

You were being overtaken by a milkfloat?! Was Dougal driving? 🤣

Always. I’m keen not to kill/injure a cyclist/motorbike rider.

Most new drivers still aren’t driving cars with cameras and modern mirrors so still an important thing to teach

This is interesting and a little mind boggling...

https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/using-the-road.html

I don't doubt that people are being taught not to do shoulder checks. But it does seem to be in contradiction to the highway code, which says: "look round to check the blind spots (the areas you are unable to see in the mirrors)"

I was taught to drive by an ex traffic cop, who taught me to religiously check my blind spot. I still do. I've avoided a serious accident at least twice as a result.

I do also check my mirrors regularly and generally have a good sense of the conditions and who is around me. But humans are fallible and it doesn't hurt to have an extra check. I do a shoulder check every time I pull out/change lane out of habit. It doesn't hurt anyone and poses no risk (I worry about those who have said they'd worry about swerving/drifting - it's not a risk if you're having a quick glance - similar to looking at the speedometer. Like you, I've never drifted while doing a shoulder check!).

I'm curious, does your DD now do shoulder checks or does she stick to using mirrors?

You would be wrong about me. I check mirrors all the time. I also do a final ‘lifesaver’ check.

I passed just over 15 years ago and was also told not to focus forward constantly. But also to check my blind spot. It really does surprise me people are being taught not too. Some people drive like dicks and appear out of no where.

Always do as usually drive the most precious thing - my DC. And have avoided a lot of near misses because of that. Also drivers in my area are known to be pretty bad so I triple check.

Bloody hell! This is terrifying. Please look over your shoulder. Please also learn to move your body and hands independently.

Im the same, it was ingrained in me that my eyes should be moving all the time from front, to mirror to mirror to mirror and front again.

Horrifying that we are all driving about with people who simply can’t be bothered to look!

30 mph zone.

Some people have been taught not to give way to cars coming from the right eg if 2 lanes merge into 1 and "ziping" is needed.

So if you were both going off a two lane roundabout lane into a 1 lane road (with no official merge lane space)

Lane 1 ignores that lane 2 needs to exit too and keeps driving on the assumption lane 1 continues and lane 2 and the motor vanishes.

If all the exits were 1 lane exits lane 2 would have to keep going around the roundabout forever as lane 1 should not give way to allow lane 2 to exit safely

You have been extremely lucky! Please check your blind spots or you will kill somebody. This thread is shocking.

I highly recommend advanced driving lessons, if you are unsure. I did them for my motorbike skills and I am a much better driver.

me too.

Also is very foolish to depend on technology. Technology should aid you not do the driving for you. I got screwed up multiple times by technology (sensor seeing or not seeing a car) that I never relax not when adaptable cruise control is on. Stupid car once braked from high speed to very low on motorway because another vehicle was on a slipway slowing down (not my lane) and saw it as if it was in front of me in in my lane. Thanks God there was noone behind me or I would have been toast. Lesson learnt.

Yes I do.
My car has alerts for blind spot and I still have a quick check anyway.

My car has an inbuilt blind spot section in the wing mirror. It also has lights if a car is in my blind spot.

These were being taught to be lane hoggers 😬

Huh? Really?!

Yes. My old car had such an awful blind spot that I had to check twice because once wasn't enough! Once, before I realised how bad it was, I nearly merged into the side of someone on the motorway. I'd checked and seen nothing. Now I'm extra fastidious about it!

Always!