So, what we are talking about is observing a car in your inside rear-view mirror, and keeping it in view as it moves from that mirror, into the view of your left mirror, whence it becomes visible directly as it passes you. It’s a smooth transition that completely eliminates blind spots; the vehicle is either in one or the other of your mirrors, or you can see it directly.

When your mirrors are set this way, you will find that the left mirror will be angled out much farther than you may be used to. For instance, you will not be able to see the side of your car in the mirror (which is fine, when you think about it, as you already know your car is there).

You can adjust your right mirror in the same manner, but to do so precisely, it helps if there’s a car passing on your right. Positioning yourself in the centre of three lanes will do the trick, adjusting your mirrors so that likewise, there’s no blind spot. Typically, though, it’s the left side that’s the busiest.

When your mirrors are adjusted in this fashion, vehicles in front, beside and behind you are always visible; never hidden. And even though your car may be equipped with a “blind spot” warning system, it will only confirm what you can already see.

According to Charlie Goodman’s son Brett, his father used to refer to mirrors as “blind spot detection devices.” Good one, Charlie!

And just to be clear, Charlie Goodman wasn’t the only person who promoted this form of mirror adjustment; it’s just that he taught me, and it stuck. However, Canadian auto journalists have championed the method for years (decades, actually), with Jim Kenzie, Marc Lachapelle, Brad Diamond and Gary Magwood coming readily to mind.

A couple of additional mirror hints: adjust your outside mirrors’ vertical angle so that the horizon is positioned in the middle of the reflected image (the horizon equally bisects the mirror image).

Driving with your mirrors set “Charlie Goodman style” takes a little getting used to. If you feel more confident with a quick shoulder check, by all means do so. If you’re not 100 per cent certain that your lane change is safe, wait until you are.

Surely I don’t need to remind readers of this, but just in case…after you pass a vehicle, it is safe to return to your lane when you can fully see the passed vehicle in your inside rear-view mirror.

In my experience, most people don’t have their mirrors set, “Charlie Goodman style.” Consequently, they DO have blind spots. Don’t drive in them!

Related posts:

  1. Ford to introduce new Blind Spot mirror
  2. Ford’s new systems minimize blind spot risk
  3. Auto Tech: Audi’s blind-spot vehicle detector
  4. Blind concerned with silent engine technology
  5. U.S. bill to protect the blind from “silent” vehicles
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