I drive a Jeep. It's amazing how big the blind sopt it. Only took one near miss (my fault) for me to be converted to lookign every time.

well, that's easy for yow o tsay!

Normally yes I do unless I KNOW there's nobody there. Example: if I'm on the freeway at 3am and bombing along at 90+ and KNOW there are no other cars around or that I passed a guy a couple of seconds ago and can now see him in the rearview, I won't. Admittedly I probably should but let's face it - it's kind of pointless and the effort of craning my neck and swiveling my head all the way around resulting in (1) taking my eyes off of what's in front of me and (2) possibly giving myself momentary disorientation due to the fluids in the inner ear moving around before & after looking are arguably more dangerous than a "non-look-over-the-shoulder" in such a case.

Stop signs - same kind of deal. "No cop, no stop" or "stoptional" are sometimes employed.

If this is your fear, than you are following too close.:rolleyes:

hate to say it, dee dee, but he's right

"....a majority of drivers do not adjust their side-mirrors properly. It is possible to eliminate almost every bit of the "blind spots" on most vehicles if your side-mirrors are positioned correctly."

Well said Leader! I frequently debate friends on this issue. Most people are accustom to the view down the length of their vehicle.

I always look to see.

I'd also like to announce my opinion, well, observation really, that German cars have better visibility. Period. All German cars I have driven have been EASY to see 360 degrees, while many other makers seem to regard visibility as an afterthought. I've had a number of people comment also. Folks who usually drive Hondas, etc.

So why do you "always look to see?" Not to criticize driving styles, but I've seen more accidents from people taking their eyes off the road, i.e. rear-end collisions, than accidents from lane-changing into someone.

Yes, the 911 has great vision. So if one's mirrors are adjusted, they can see almost 180-degrees unfettered behind and to the sides.

So it sounds like a lot of drivers who look over their shoulders, do so because they don't trust themselves as drivers. Or do they not trust what the car is showing them? Or should they merely adjust their rear-view mirrors?

No, friend, I don't follow too close. In fact the opposite - I give enough car lengths ahead of myself to get cut off continually. My observation comes from others in front who ARE FOLLOWING too close, and over-brake to compensate.

But yes, taking my eyes off the road is a fear: would you want to chance your cute mug going through the windshield, or getting knotted up in your steering wheel after you ass-kiss the SUV in front of you? Maybe so...

Anyway, there's a reason your mirrors are adjustable. :rolleyes:

yes, because drivers come in all shapes and sizes

Well, since it's now a requirment to turn your head to pass the drivers test (see original post) and it looks like almost everyone here turns there head to look, who's right and who's wrong. I just hope one day when you're not looking that you don't kill anyone. God forbid you get a bloody lip on your cute mug. But I guess you're the bestest driver ever, so you should now. :rolleyes:

ok, i am absolutely forcing myself to take a quick glance. admittedly, it doesnt take that much time. sometimes i feel stupid, because in my work truck i see, yup the tool box on the pass side. i am trying to make it a easy habit. drivers side, helps.

i did an experiment. same truck 2002 ford F150. i have the luxury of having a shut down freeway to do this. i was bored. i set my mirrors by leaning my head against the glass and set the mirror just so i could see the last bit of my truck. and then put my head in the middle of the car over the center console and did the same thing. now settled in driving position i do not see my own truck. then set my rearview to optimize full view. when the lane closure truck creeps by, i can see it in the rearview, and when it disappears, my side mirror already picked it up, by the time my side mirror loses it, it is already in my peripheral. worked nicely. i will still try to peek over quickly, to make it a habit so i dont fail any potential driving test.

Whatever works for you. Conversely, I've never seen Schumacher look over his shoulder.

...and who says those who teach driving and administer driving tests know how to drive?

Question authority, Highlander -- even in traffic. SmileWavy

I live in Central Illinois but travel to Chicago frequently. I notice that I employ vastly different driving techniques on a two-lane interstate through cornfields versus a ten-lane expressway heading downtown.

On the two-lane interstate:

I drive in the right lane and pass in the left. I look over my shoulder on the left side to get into the left lane, but don't always look right (wait for both headlights of passed vehicle to be visible in rear-view mirror) when returning to the right lane.

In Chicago traffic:

I try to operate like an Aegis cruiser, tracking the exact position of every vehicle around me. DD has a point, if you try not to follow too closely, you just end up with as many cars as will fit in the gap you are trying to create. You seriously have to be moving backwards to maintain a safe following distance. I keep my eyes 3 or more cars ahead, so that I can anticipate any sudden braking. I try to look over my shoulder (right or left) when switching lanes, but I rely most on my awareness of every vehicle around me. It has failed me, but I have also come close to rear-ending the car in front of me when looking to switch lanes. I just make a judgement at that point in time.

Legion's description of a ten-line expressway is totally accurate. When driving in a lot of lanes, I drive my car way more like a submarine than like a car. Assume that nobody can see you unless they make radio contact specifically saying that they don't intend to run over you. Track everything, assuming that those little white lines on the road have no meaning for anyone, or are at most a loose guidance on where you should drive.

And yes, btw, I've come pretty darned close to rear-ending people while checking over my shoulder, especially in the Honda, which has rotten visibility. The Porker, like Supe points out, has awesome visibility -- that was the first thing I noticed when I first drove a 911. I still think the odds of a sideswipe can be minimized by a quick glance to check the edges of your peripheral vision, though, and it doesn't take that long, if you practice.

Dan

I've never seen anyone close enough for Shu for him to need any mirrors at all.

And I question everything, thats why I always turn my head. After all that LSD in the 60s, I want to be sure when I change lanes I'm gonna hit somethin.

Peripheral vision helps a lot. That's basically looking over my shoulder to me.

Ha! Well, I can't fault you there. :D