Help me to settle something about driving.

[mo2]

Poll coming.

[Josie]

I want to TRIPLE check that I am not going to hit a child or an adult, for that matter, so I always turn around. I also look in the mirror.

[Crissy]

Turn around and check the mirrors. You get a different perspective from each view, and shouldn't depend on one over the other.

[momofkhm]

I thought both. But honestly, I have a back-up camera in my van and I use that.

[SJ.]

I want to TRIPLE check that I am not going to hit a child or an adult, for that matter, so I always turn around. I also look in the mirror.

 

Me too. I also crack the windows on both sides, turn down the radio and the heat/ac so I can hear if someone yells for me to stop in the event I missed someone.

[bbkaren]

There are areas you can't see in your mirrors...and also areas you can't see by turning in your seat. I turn around and look, then back using mirrors in most cases. If it's a long distance I'll be backing, I cycle through the mirrors/turn around process several times.

 

It's also important if you know there are little children or pets around, to make sure you know where they are at the moment, wherever possible.

 

There have been occasions where, on a difficult backing-up instance, I've asked someone to call and hold their dog/child out of the way where I can see them.

 

Whenever possible, I try to do my backing up under controlled circumstances (i.e. At a gathering, I'll turn my car around when I arrive rather than later when it might be dark, or the kids might be running around).

 

eta: Same as SJ, I too shut everything off and open windows in order to hear and concentrate better.

Edited November 1, 2011 by bbkaren

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

Turn around and check the mirrors. You get a different perspective from each view, and shouldn't depend on one over the other.

 

:iagree:

[Acorn]

I do both but I think you are also supposed to physically walk around your vehicle before getting in.

[FaithManor]

I refuse to rely on only mirrors because of blindspots.

 

That said, I am furious with the number of individuals at our local Walmart who back out of parking spaces without every looking. Seriously, they just hit the gas and slam into the poor person waiting to turn into another spot or waiting to turn to go into the next lane or exit to the main lane. GRRRRR.....

 

Faith

[LizzyBee]

I voted look out the back window because that's how I was taught in drivers ed. More recently, two of my dds have taken drivers ed and one has her license. They were told that if they don't have their torso turned, their arm on the back of the seat, and their eyes looking out the back window, they will have points deducted on the driving test.

 

But in practice, I use a combination of looking out the back window and the mirrors.

[Parrothead]

I check behind the vehicle before getting in when it is in the driveway. I also check under it for a cat which likes to be under the vehicles.

 

When leaving from a parking space I will use mirrors sparingly and look behind me when backing up.

 

When backing up a fire truck or rescue vehicle which has no way to see out the rear window, I use mirrors. I hate depending solely on mirrors.

[brehon]

I check behind the vehicle before getting in when it is in the driveway. I also check under it for a cat which likes to be under the vehicles.

 

When leaving from a parking space I will use mirrors sparingly and look behind me when backing up.

 

When backing up a fire truck or rescue vehicle which has no way to see out the rear window, I use mirrors. I hate depending solely on mirrors.

 

:iagree: Yep. Except for the cat part (ours are inside). I tend to walk around my POV now out of long habit working the ambulance. On duty we are required to walk around the ambulance if (for some odd circumstance) we don't have a backer or use a backer.

 

The rear view camera does not have a full field of vision. Looking behind you and using mirrors is probably better.

[extendedforecast]

I refuse to rely on only mirrors because of blindspots.

 

That said, I am furious with the number of individuals at our local Walmart who back out of parking spaces without every looking. Seriously, they just hit the gas and slam into the poor person waiting to turn into another spot or waiting to turn to go into the next lane or exit to the main lane. GRRRRR.....

 

Faith

 

WalMart brings out the crazy in people. :tongue_smilie:

[TKDmom]

WalMart brings out the crazy in people. :tongue_smilie:

 

:iagree:

 

(((shudder)))

[Miss Marple]

According to the driver instructor and test my son took last week, a "fail" will result if you don't physically turn around and look behind you.

 

I, however, teach the boys to use a combination of turning around and mirrors - but don't rely only on mirrors. I do like the new cars that are equipped with the back-up beeping safety system. I wish all our vehicles had that.

[Miss Marple]

I voted look out the back window because that's how I was taught in drivers ed. More recently, two of my dds have taken drivers ed and one has her license. They were told that if they don't have their torso turned, their arm on the back of the seat, and their eyes looking out the back window, they will have points deducted on the driving test.

 

But in practice, I use a combination of looking out the back window and the mirrors.

 

:iagree:

[LidiyaDawn]

I check behind the vehicle before getting in when it is in the driveway. I also check under it for a cat which likes to be under the vehicles.

 

When leaving from a parking space I will use mirrors sparingly and look behind me when backing up.

 

When backing up a fire truck or rescue vehicle which has no way to see out the rear window, I use mirrors. I hate depending solely on mirrors.

 

bolded: in the winter - give your hood a good thwomp on the way by too…they sometimes like to get up underneath when things are warm from running.

 

mirrors - i can NOT back up using only mirrors. can't do it. at all. things in mirrors make very little sense to me…. i have to LOOK.

[Mimmy]

Both plus sonar. I'm short and can't see great out of my tall vehicle.

[Splinter]

Both, but mainly turning around and looking.

[TN Mama]

My van has a back-up camera, but I still turn around and look and use mirrors.