Can you move mirror during the test?

the_syco

Before the "reverse car around corner" part, are you allowed to drop the mirror a bit, to allow you to see the kerb? And then fix it after that section of the test?

greasepalm

I presume your talking about automatic door mirrors as i know i do to assist to see the kerb,legality unsure during test.

Dravokivich

Only move it while the vehicle is not in motion. An astute ADI should be able to drill it into someone while assessing their observation prior to a test.

I also expect an examiner would notice if someone is adjusting their mirrors after taken off, such as when stopped in traffic. This may lead them to put more attention on observation. If they notice a glaring mistake, they'll look to see if it's repeated.

MascotDec85

In short, yes. After you’ve stopped ready to reverse.

Absolute pet hate of mine this one. Lots of testers don’t like it either but won’t mark you if you readjust the mirror once you’ve finished.

Think of it this way. Moving the mirror down can:
1) mean you might not see an approaching pedestrian on the footpath
2) mean you can’t see another road user approach for behind or from the side road
3) mean you’re reacting to the kerb position as you move back as opposed to seeing the kerb in advance and anticipate/read what you’ll have to do.

Set your mirror properly to cover all scenarios. You’ll have a better overall picture of what’s happening as you proceed.

J_R

the_syco wrote: »

Before the "reverse car around corner" part, are you allowed to drop the mirror a bit, to allow you to see the kerb? And then fix it after that section of the test?

Hi,

Of course you can. The mirror on some cars automatically dip when reverse is selected.

However you must of course also maintain adequate all round observations as you progress around the corner.

Regarding re-adjusting after completion, take a moment to compose yourself, concentrate, you have now completed one of the three exercises, now switching back into driving mode, so check everything is OK then if all OK, do your obs checks indicate and away you go.

Or you could also use a little memory prompt like putting a strip of tape around the top of the steering wheel.

MascotDec85

J_R wrote: »

Hi,

Of course you can. The mirror on some cars automatically dip when reverse is selected.

This can generally be turned off by moving the mirror switch to the neutral/central position rather than having it turned to the left mirror.

J_R

MascotDec85 wrote: »

This can generally be turned off by moving the mirror switch to the neutral/central position rather than having it turned to the left mirror.

Hi,

If fitted the reversing camera can also be turned off.

Way I see it, there is really no right or wrong way. Best method, whichever the pupil finds the most comfortable. easiest to perform . The instructor watches, corrects if necessary, advises and explains what needs to be covered, such as necessary observation. I found allowing them to see the kerb in the mirror so that they could give the odd check was usually best.

Did have one very cocky young lad. End of the test, he switched off the engine, turned to the examiner and said, "I just made the one mistake, I forgot to re-adjust the mirror after the reverse" Examiner replied that he would talk to him inside. He passed him, gave him about four faults and did not mention the revere or mirrors.

MascotDec85

J_R wrote: »

Hi,

If fitted the reversing camera can also be turned off.

Way I see it, there is really no right or wrong way. Best method, whichever the pupil finds the most comfortable. easiest to perform . The instructor watches, corrects if necessary, advises and explains what needs to be covered, such as necessary observation. I found allowing them to see the kerb in the mirror so that they could give the odd check was usually best.

Did have one very cocky young lad. End of the test, he switched off the engine, turned to the examiner and said, "I just made the one mistake, I forgot to re-adjust the mirror after the reverse" Examiner replied that he would talk to him inside. He passed him, gave him about four faults and did not mention the revere or mirrors.

My reply was really for the info of others as I’ve found some people didn’t know that mirror function could be disabled.

J_R

MascotDec85 wrote: »

My reply was really for the info of others as I’ve found some people didn’t know that mirror function could be disabled.

Hi,

sorry, I just do not see the point of disabling a useful aid. Would it not be better to teach them how to use these aids safely. Then in the test and for the remainder of their driving lives they can make full use these aids.

MascotDec85

J_R wrote: »

Hi,

sorry, I just do not see the point of disabling a useful aid. Would it not be better to teach them how to use these aids safely. Then in the test and for the remainder of their driving lives they can make full use these aids.

My opinion is for the points I made earlier in the thread.

cherryghost

MascotDec85 wrote: »

My reply was really for the info of others as I’ve found some people didn’t know that mirror function could be disabled.

People should learn more about how their car operates so.

MascotDec85

cherryghost wrote: »

People should learn more about how their car operates so.

Absolutely! Quite often they don’t though.

J_R

MascotDec85 wrote: »

This can generally be turned off by moving the mirror switch to the neutral/central position rather than having it turned to the left mirror.

Hi

So, do you have your pupils disable this feature. ?

MascotDec85

J_R wrote: »

Hi

So, do you have your pupils disable this feature. ?

No, it’s their choice.

I explain to them why I think it’s a bad idea. I get them to put the mirror down and describe to me what they can see. I then ask them to put the mirror back up again and describe what they can see again. I let them make their own mind up. 9/10 will leave the mirror up agreeing that they can see a helluva lot more with the mirror up.

Whilst I can see the point you’re trying to make it’s also very easy to have the mirror set correctly so that you can see both the kerb AND any approaching road/footpath users. On a point of safety I don’t know why you’d want to reduce your options of spotting these people at the earliest opportunity.

J_R

MascotDec85 wrote: »

No, it’s their choice.

I explain to them why I think it’s a bad idea. I get them to put the mirror down and describe to me what they can see. I then ask them to put the mirror back up again and describe what they can see again. I let them make their own mind up. 9/10 will leave the mirror up agreeing that they can see a helluva lot more with the mirror up.

Whilst I can see the point you’re trying to make it’s also very easy to have the mirror set correctly so that you can see both the kerb AND any approaching road/footpath users. On a point of safety I don’t know why you’d want to reduce your options of spotting these people at the earliest opportunity.

Hi,

Some car mirrors can be adjusted so that they can be used for normal driving whilst also giving a view of the pavement. Other cars have mirrors which have less or no convexity cannot, and must be re-adjusted for the different jobs. I assumed the OP has the latter types.

Regarding observation, I always taught my pupils that they must always be looking in the direction they are driving, therefore whilst reversing their main observation should be through the back and left side window. With frequent checks in the mirrors and the other quadrants. So they did not need to use the left mirror for general observation, only to check for the kerb.

(Only exception to above, if the driver due to their height, or lack of, can only see the sky through the back window then they use the interior mirror.)

MascotDec85

J_R wrote: »

Hi,

Some car mirrors can be adjusted so that they can be used for normal driving whilst also giving a view of the pavement. Other cars have mirrors which have less or no convexity cannot, and must be re-adjusted for the different jobs. I assumed the OP has the latter types.

Regarding observation, I always taught my pupils that they must always be looking in the direction they are driving, therefore whilst reversing their main observation should be through the back and left side window. With frequent checks in the mirrors and the other quadrants. So they did not need to use the left mirror for general observation, only to check for the kerb.

(Only exception to above, if the driver due to their height, or lack of, can only see the sky through the back window then they use the interior mirror.)

I also, currently, teach pupils to look in the direction they’re going, I wouldn’t make a very good instructor if I didn’t.
If a mirror could be used for 2 things by easily setting it correctly I simply don’t understand why you’d want to limit it’s effective use by reducing it to 1.

This is being dragged out unnecessarily and the OP question has been answered.

It's worth pointing out that some car wing mirrors are different to others. I had a Peugeot 407 before and they were pretty much just a styling feature - very thin, low height, etc.

I did my test (and passed) in a Rav4 - The wing mirrors on the Rav4 are chunky and tall, so you can see loads of stuff without having to adjust it.