Prius UNSAFE? Blind spot

No, it is on all the Gen IIIs. Yes, you have to be very careful changing lanes, especially from a left to right lane (left hand drive vehicles). I shift my entire body as far as I can looking at the passenger mirror before moving over to the right. If it is a big problem for you, you may want to consider spending $5.00 to get a couple of small round convex mirrors to stick on the outside mirrors.

- TP

 

I've noticed this as well as it seems there is a larger blind spot for me on the driver's side.

I've learned to compensate for this and turn to view a much longer angle before merging. I am also going to install convex blind spot mirrors to help with this.

 

Kinda happy with w the Fusion you get blind spot indicators, and lane change warnings along with other safety features. I'm sure the next gen of Prius will have all that and more...

 

One should always set your mirrors as illustrated by Avoiding The Blind Spot | Car Talk to avoid blind spots. It takes awhile to get used to be, there's no way I'd go back. You don't need to see the side of your car in your mirrors.

 

Have these on my Prius "v"
Amazon.com: Total View 360 - Adjustable Blind Spot Mirror - As Seen On TV!: Sports & Outdoors

 

I am not sure what the circumstances were that caused people to have problems with blind spots on their Prius' but I haven't noticed anything unusual about our 2012 Prius as far as the mirrors or other design impediments to seeing enough around me when driving in heavy traffic. The driving task is a full-time job and using mirrors and proper head checks are very important. If you can't see, then move your head so you can see. Leave nothing to chance.

 

that's why i get in the right lane and stay there. i keep the rear headrests folded down and forward when i can, it helps a bit.

 

I don't see it to be that much of an issue.

 

Learn how to adjust your mirrors properly and it's not an issue.

 

Do what I do in the frontier.... Turn your head around?

 

I have not noticed a blind spot when changing lanes. In drivers education, many years ago, I was taught that you always turn your head and NEVER rely on your mirrors when changing lanes. However, I do forget the golden rule on occasion. The only blind spot I've noticed is when backing at an angle into a street.

 

Yep. In high school driver's ed, I was taught SMOG:
Signal
Mirror
Over-the-shoulder
Go (if clear)

Having mirrors adjusted properly (outwards) so that you're not wasting some of mirror space to see the side of your car means seeing more of what's around you when looking in the mirror.

My 350Z had massive blind spots and not very good visibility towards the rear. That's when I realized I had to adopt the method at Avoiding The Blind Spot | Car Talk.

Having mirrors adjusted improperly (sides of car visible) + looking over one's shoulder seemed insufficient.

 

cwerdna is right on. Side blind spots are caused by one thing, and one thing only: improper adjustment of the mirrors. I took a high-performance driving course 25+ years ago and that's one of the first things they taught me; the silly way of adjusting your mirrors so you see the side of your car is just plain WRONG. I learned to adjust mine properly, and got used to it decades ago, and now find the whole concept of "blind spots" and even the BLIS indicators in fashion now as amusingly unnecessary. Why don't they just educate the public on properly adjusting their mirrors instead of tech "band-aids"?

The only downside I've come across in doing this for decades is that I am infuriated every time I drop the car off for service somewhere and they re-adjust the mirrors to look down the sides of the car again.

 

I wanted to thank everyone for their informative posts on this (even though I'm not the OP, I had originally shared in their frustration with the blind spot). I had never considered the mirror adjustments to NOT see the side of the car (as when I was first taught to drive, I was told to adjust the mirrors as such). I've switched over and now my mirrors have very minimal overlap with one another. It'll take some getting used to but I already see drastic improvements in visibility behind me and to the sides.

I have yet had a moment to monitor what my blind spots look like now but I definitely am still keeping up with the "turn head and look" rule before merging. Also for the fun of it I installed one of those convex rear view mirrors that gives me a 110 degree viewing angle.

Unfortunately my huge noggin blocks out 20% of that extra view!

 

FWIW, I did not read the CarTalk instructions, but here's the way they taught me in the class (can be used by anyone) and is a little safer because you can do it parked.

First, you have to find a place to stop that has a varied background with no visual repetition, like a used car parking lot when it's closed (i.e. a brick wall WON'T work).

Stop with the varied background behind you, put the car in park and adjust rear view mirror normally.

Then:
Adjust left mirror so that the right-most edge of the left mirror just overlaps the left-most part or your rear-view mirror. Then adjust right mirror so that its left-most edge just overlaps the right-most part of your rear-view mirror.

Last step: enjoy the panoramic rear view you now have, as well as the fact that you no longer need to look over your shoulder when changing lanes.

It does take a bit to get used to, but I guarantee within 3 to 4 months you'll be thinking "how did I ever drive with my mirrors adjusted that other goofy way?"

 

My dad, who years ago drove semi trucks, taught me this when I first learned to drive. He also forbade me from looking over my shoulder before changing lanes, and I never have. Never had a problem.

 

Tell that to my wife. I set for wide-view, she points them inward ... Sigh.

Luckily she drives carefully, turns her head for added views, and looks twice (if not 3 times) before changing lanes.