Re: Lane Changes

[STEADIRIC@aol.com]

>(2) Adjust your mirrors so they cover the blind spots.  Most people align
>their left side mirror straight down the length of the car so they can see
>the guy in the passing lane 50 yards back but not the guy 5 yards back.  If
>you need to see the guy 50 yards back, look in the rearview mirror.  Some
>people like the convex mirrors - I have them in my conversion van, but don't
>like seeing my kids drippin' ice cream while I'm looking for traffic (and as
>AUDIDUDI mentioned - "it's distracting to keep looking at your own head")  .
>People not seeing me was very frustrating when I owned a black Honda CRX Si
>and noticed that no one can see this car due to their bad mirror setup,
>shadows, forgetting not everyone drives 54mph, etc.
It always amazes me when I watch other people get into a car and adjust 
their mirrors they always line them up so the can see the sides of there 
own car, Your fenders are going to stay there you don't need to keep 
checking on them.  Adjust your mirrors so that your center mirror just 
grazes your big old head and show more of the right side of the road than 
the left, your (Drivers) door mirror so that you cannot see your rear 
fender but pick up where the center mirror leaves off, and do the same 
for the passenger mirror.  At that point you should be pretty well 
covered.

>(3) Always be looking around and know what's happening ahead, along side,
>and behind.  I am always even looking at shoulders and center areas of the
>highway to know if they are feesible options if needed for quick/emergency
>lane change.
>Want a quick test of this?  Has a marked (or even unmarked) police cruiser
>ever shown up on your bumper and you didn't see him coming? - BZZT (Eric -
>we need a .WAV file for that) you failed - he is moving along a 90+ and that
>means your not checking around enough.  No one should ever sneak up on you,
>whether their going 90 or 120mph.  Same thing for closing speed on the guy
>in front of you about to be passed.  You're not thinking far enough ahead if
>you want to pull out and don't know what's around you yet and have to hit
>the brakes to look.

Here's one way to see if your doing your job and looking at what's 
happining on the road.  Drive in medium congestion and NEVER have to 
touch the brakes, The father down the road and more aware you are the 
more miles you can do this excersise

Just more beer the net owes me!  ;^)

Later!


Eric Fletcher
'87 5KCSTQIA2RSR2B

STEADIRIC@aol.com