Blind spots, why does it still exist?
 

So I decided to head to Boonies to try their legendary pulled pork sandwich with the gf last weekend. I had a tough time finding my way into their parking lot. Who would have thought the entrance to their parking lot is INSIDE another parking lot.

Anyways, during our trip, I have seen at least 5 occasions where ppl forgot to shoulder check before changing lane (the typical merging & then quickly pull away cuz they realize there another car in their blind spot). Ever since I installed split side mirrors, there no need to shoulder check anymore (I still do tho due to habits) because I can see everything in the blind spot. Even if the car is right next to me, I can still see its taillights.

This got me wondering, why arent split mirrors standard equipment? Companies spend millions of dollars into researching safety equipments and what not. Lane departure warning, adaptive headlights, 10 million air bags...etc. Many newer high end cars have "blind spot detection systems". Why is that even necessary? Just make split mirror standard & there'll be no more blind spots?

Am I missing anything here? Why is something that can be solved so easily not being solved?

BTW, Boonies' pulled pork sandwich is BEYOND LEGENDARY. Everyone should go try it.

actually if you adjust your mirror correctly, there should be almost 0 blind spot, the car will go from your rear view mirror to your side mirror than it will enter your peripheral vision

... or you can just do the 3 step rule and live on with you life.

Mirror,
Signal,
Sholder check
??

/thread.

if you are not skilled to drive, then don't.

even if there are split mirrors, cameras, beeping gadgets, there will still be stupid people who runs their car into you.

The truth is not everyone follow the rules they'r suppose to follow. The point I'm trying to make is why spend so much money researching on complicated gadgets when the problem can be solved with something much simpler

becuase if you crashed into someone and you used this excuse that you have split mirrors, you would loose the battle fast. its also in your test that its MANDATORY to do shoulder checks even though half the people dont.

i have those big rear view mirror, the small circle side mirrors you stick on the side mirrors themselves but i still shoulder check coz ive gotten used to it.

i hate people WHO dont shoulder check and are always doing something!!! picking nose, talking a phone, playing with radio and so on!!


and also, even if you have the most exspensive tech in your car, as long as stupid people exist, its useles. They think they are king shit on the road and drive like they own the road or the only ones on the road...

Fair enough, stupidity can't be solved

the worst in my opinion is when you are in the far right lane merging to the middle but the same time there is the far left lane guy merging to the middle lane as well, i've seen almost happen before and they were both shoulder checking so they won't nail the middle lane guy

That's because you're supposed to shoulder check BEFORE you start moving over into the lane. If you signal, shoulder check, then start to merge you'll have no problem seeing the other guy merging into your lane.

SO what if you shoulder check to switch lanes coz the guy in front of you is slow, WHILE your in your shoulder checking phase, he slams on his brakes for god knows why and you hit him or you swirve and hit something else.. THEN WHAT?

Then you're either or both:
1. Following too close.
2. Too slow at shoulder checking.

I always make a point of shoulder checking. I think I went through a phase where I didn't always shoulder check. It's amazing how many accidents can be avoided with a simple turn of the head.
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Almost every Ford will have blind spot mirrors or blind spot warning by 2011. :)

But if people change lanes without shoulder checking, what's to stop them from changing lanes without mirror-checking?

Never underestimate the ability for mankind to fuck up.

that's a step inthe right direction. With the strict safety regulations in place, it's wierd how curved or split mirrors r not mandatory.
Posted via RS Mobile

nop, some car like my uncles's CLS is long and has very small mirrors. huge blind spot, you have to shoulder check.

I believe the new infiniti M has got a blind spot detection system

the 2010 acura mdx has the blind spot detection system...it does gets kind of annoying when it lights up on the door, when there really isnt a car beside you

mine has a blind spot detection system too...i bought it in princess auto for a couple of bucks...its the little convex mirror...

c'mon seriously, do you need a light or a bell to tell you that there is something there? if you shoulder checked you would get much better results...

Doesn't the fancy electronic blind spot system work ONLY if you signal, so the car knows you're trying to change lanes? Otherwise the system would go haywire every time someone appeared in your blind spot. The problem is that the crappy drivers won't be signaling. Therefore, this isn't going to do jack for automotive safety.

I agree with the split mirror thing though. Many European cars have them as standard on their Euro-spec models. I wouldn't be surprised if they're banned (along with other features like flashing brake lights and knee airbags) because of some archaic DOT rule (which Canada basically follows blindly) from the 1940s. It's happened before.

At one point, passenger side view mirrors weren't standard on some cars :eek:

^ True dat. My 1st car (1984 Oldsmobile) didn't have one. You just made up for it by shoulder checking. :)

So maybe instead of making it easier for drivers to not do shoulder checks, they should go the opposite way and make it harder by removing feautures and mirrors. I like.
Posted via RS Mobile

yea the very low end eg civics and older civics had side mirror only on the driver side :D

No, it would just make non-shoulder checkers more dangerous.

because even if those mirrors come standard, some dumbass would still manage to point it at the sky. I have seen so many driver WITH licenses that do not know how to use the mirrors and only rely on the rearview. Hell my mother drove for few yrs in china without even using her side mirrors.

Technology is created so it will be one step ahead of all the idiots, can't stay within the lines? can't check your blind spot? can't tell if you car's about to hit a pole? no worries, I bet you can't ignore the amazing loud and annoying beep or robotic voice or demonic screaming that activates when one of your car's sensor sense your stupidity.

New mercedes will even remind you to take coffee breaks and wake you if it detects you dozing off. 2-3 generation later, all you need to get your license is to not be deaf and have a thumb to press buttons.