View out the back, use of side mirrors, etc.

[rdoucette]

Friends...

Have been reading posts (mostly in the Yahoo 2004 boards) about rear visibility, blind spots, blind spot mirrors, etc. A few thoughts...

I've not yet gotten my Prius (awaiting silver AI since Oct.) but I
have a few day and night hours in a local TRAC car.

The visibility out the back through the rearview mirror is a bit
truncated, but no worse than my '96 Oddyssey minivan. The lower rear
glass actually enhances rear visibility by giving a better view of
the road just behind the Prius.

The real reason for this post is to talk about the proper use of the
side mirrors. Most people don't set them properly, and it's a pet
peeve of mine. (OK, not an earth-shattering issue, but one that
effects safety.)

Most people set their side mirrors so that they can see down the
side of the car on both sides. WRONG. These mirrors are actually for
seeing the blind spots on both sides of the car. The correct
procedure is to set the view farther out to the sides so that as a
vehicle moves forward (in relation to your car), it comes into view
in the side mirror about the time it disappears from the rearview
mirror. As it continues to move forward, it begins to go out of view
in the side mirror at about the time it comes into view in your
peripheral vision. If the mirrors are set this way, the "blind spot"
is virtually eliminated. Some use small auxiliary mirrors that tack
onto the side mirrors for a wider look, but these should supplement
the view, not act as the primary view of the blind spot.

Here are a few good links to procedures for adjusting mirrors:

http://safetynet.smis.doi.gov/SideMirrorAdj.htm
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/e...ck/blindspo.htm
I learned this stuff in drivers' ed in the 70's, but a lot of people
today don't seem to learn it.

And, no, I'm not a driving instructor, just somebody who wants YOU
not to change lanes into ME.

[Wolfman]

Of course, I WAS taught to verify that there was nobody in your blind spot prior to making a lane change by LOOKING before twisting the wheel.

[rdoucette]

Of course, I WAS taught to verify that there was nobody in your blind spot prior to making a lane change by LOOKING before twisting the wheel.

Yep, you're absolutely right, I should have mentioned that as well. Thanks.

Proper "looking" is especially true at night and when there are motorcycles about, which are harder to spot.

[jsorger]

I've been driving my 2004 for a little over 2 months now, about 3000 miles on it. The visibility out the rear really is bad... So much that my wife has been nervous driving it at night. Not an age thing either (we're both under 30). No matter how one uses side mirrors, I believe Toyota should have paid a bit more attention to the rear visibility.

[efusco]

Originally posted by jsorger
I've been driving my 2004 for a little over 2 months now, about 3000 miles on it.  The visibility out the rear really is bad... So much that my wife has been nervous driving it at night.  Not an age thing either (we're both under 30).  No matter how one uses side mirrors, I believe Toyota should have paid a bit more attention to the rear visibility.

I couldn't disagree more, and I'm not an ardent "Everything about the Prius is perfect b/c it's a Prius" kind of guy. I think the rear visibility is at least as good as 90% of production vehicles on the market. It's clearly better than any SUV b/c of the lower angle of view. The large side windows allow for excellent visiblity as well. I've got about 3500 miles on mine now, it does take getting used to and the unusual lines can be disconcerting, but the visibility is there.

I challenge you, with mirrors properly set, to find a blind spot larger than a human body...I don't think you can do it. I tried with the first one on my dealer's lot b/c it had come up on the boards, and we moved a person around trying as hard as possible to 'hide him' from the driver's view....he was always visible, without contorsions to do it, by looking in either the outside or window mounted rear-view mirror unless way off to the side of the vehicle where a simple turn of the head would immediately reveal him...sounds like every other car I've driven.

I'm NOT saying that the view may still be uncomfortable to you or your wife. I can say that it might be. But to declare the physical visibility to actually be bad--something that can pretty easily be objectively checked, I think is innaccurate.
--evan

[cybele]

Originally posted by efusco
I couldn't disagree more, and I'm not an ardent \"Everything about the Prius is perfect b/c it's a Prius\" kind of guy.  I think the rear visibility is at least as good as 90% of production vehicles on the market.  It's clearly better than any SUV b/c of the lower angle of view.  

I feel pretty much the same way, Evan.

It's taken me a little while to get the mirrors right, but I'm much more confident about what's to my sides and rear now than when I first got the car.

I do a lot of backing up too - I have a long driveway that I share with the neighbors. It's the kind of driveway that the kids hang out in all the time so I have to be very aware of pets, toys, bikes, garbage cans and kids. But I never rely soley on the mirrors, I spend much more time looking over my shoulder (well, I also scope the area before I even get into the car).

It's much better than my husband's Saab hatchback.

My suggestion, jsorger, is to just spend some time. Go to an empty parking lot with some cones or empty cardboard boxes and play around with it.

I think one of the most important things a driver can have is confidence in his car. That means knowing what it can and can't do and where you are in relation to everything else.

That said, if you are uncomfortable and don't think that you will ever be comfortable, then I think you should find another car that will give you the sort of visibility you desire. I don't think there's any issue about taking a 'loss' on the car, plenty of folks would be happy to buy a slightly used one.

[teatopper]

I've driven the Prius for a month now. What was hard was changing my viewing expectations from my other car (Audi) to this one. I was "programmed" so to speak, to looking in a certain pattern that I was no longer aware of. At first I felt more vulnerable in the Prius, was startled if something appeared that I didn't expect. But, I notice that I am slowly shifting to a new pattern and much more comfortable. Subtle habits are hard to change.

Terry

[Jonathan]

I agree that the Prius takes some getting used to, probably like any car that's new to someone. My issue is actually concerning cars that are farther behind then say 6 car lengths. For me, 5'7" the top of the car cuts off my rear view through the mirror so I can't see as far back as I like. Anyone else?

[ammiels]

I am your size. The mirror has 2 joints, if you pull the mirror down as far as it will go and *then* turn it so you can see out the rear window your line of sight goes higher out the back. Learned this from a convertible with a narrow and low rear window.

[mikepaul]

I'm 6'0". My typical driving position is slightly slouched (long neck), so the view isn't all that cut off at the top.

However, I do use the side mirrors for backing up, and have adjusted them so I can *barely* see the car. I need to see where the tail of the car is when backing into a space, and unless I stick my head out the window I can't get that by turning around. I find no discernable blind spot: as cars pass me, I see them enter my over-right-shoulder view almost exactly the same time I lose them in the right mirror. Same for any left problems.

Now, I'm not saying that someone else should adjust the mirrors the same way, but for me, they work without special adjustments...