When it comes to driving safety, mirrors may seem insignificant. But this small feature plays a big role in keeping you safe on the road. Imagine if you didn't have mirrors, you wouldn't be able to see what's happening behind your car. That means the risk of collision would be much greater.

For novice drivers, it's common to focus only on what's ahead. However, getting into the habit of glancing at your mirrors is an important reflex that must be practiced. That way, you can be aware of the situation behind you and be better prepared to make decisions, whether you want to change lanes, overtake, or park.

To optimize visibility and ensure your comfort during the trip, here's how to adjust your car mirrors correctly:

1. Find a Comfortable Seating Position First

The first step before touching the mirrors is to sit in the driver's seat in an ideal position. Make sure the distance between the seat and the pedals, steering wheel, and transmission lever is just right.

After that, adjust the center mirror in front of you. Position this mirror vertically so you can see behind you without having to move your head too much. Once the center mirror is in the right position, it will be easier for you to monitor the area behind you without having to turn your head.

2. Move on to the Side Mirrors

Car technology is becoming more and more sophisticated. Many models are equipped with a small lever on the side door to adjust the mirrors electrically. But if your car still uses a manual model, just adjust it using the lever or push the mirror directly.

Make sure the side mirrors show a small part of the car body and most of the road behind, which is important to minimize blind spots.

3. Focus on the Driver's Mirror

For the driver's side mirror, adjust it so you can see the car behind and a little bit of the side of your own car. This position helps you gauge the distance of the vehicle behind, especially when changing lanes.

4. Don't Forget the Passenger Side Mirror

The passenger side mirror also plays an important role, especially for monitoring the left side of the vehicle. If you still use a manual mirror, you may need to make a little extra effort to adjust its position from the passenger seat. But the results are worth it, as the blind spot area can be greatly reduced.

5. Double-Check All Mirrors Before Driving

Once everything is adjusted, sit back in the driver's seat and make sure the viewing angles of all three mirrors are correct. Check whether you can clearly monitor the rear and sides of the car. That way, you'll feel more confident when overtaking, reversing, or parking.

Though it may seem trivial, the habit of adjusting your mirrors before driving can be the difference between a safe journey and the risk of an accident. So, don't just focus on the steering wheel and gas pedal. Remember, your little mirrors are your heroes on the road.

Indonesia  🇮🇩

Begini Cara Tepat Menyetel Spion Mobil Sebelum Berkendara

Kalau ngomongin soal keselamatan berkendara, kaca spion mungkin terlihat sepele. Tapi justru fitur kecil ini punya peran besar buat memastikan kamu tetap aman di jalan. Bayangkan, tanpa spion, kamu nggak bisa tahu kondisi di belakang mobil. Itu artinya, risiko tabrakan bakal jauh lebih besar.

Buat para pengemudi pemula, sering kali fokus cuma ke depan. Padahal, membiasakan diri untuk sesekali melirik spion adalah refleks penting yang wajib dilatih. Dengan begitu, kamu bisa tahu situasi di belakang dan lebih siap ambil keputusan, entah mau pindah jalur, nyalip, atau parkir.

Nah, biar visibilitas makin optimal dan kamu nyaman selama perjalanan, berikut cara mengatur kaca spion mobil yang benar:

1. Posisi Duduk Dulu yang Nyaman

Langkah pertama sebelum menyentuh spion adalah duduk di kursi pengemudi dengan posisi ideal. Pastikan jarak jok ke pedal, setir, dan tuas transmisi sudah pas.

Setelah itu, atur spion tengah yang ada di depan kamu. Posisikan spion ini tegak lurus, supaya kamu bisa melihat ke belakang tanpa perlu menggerakkan kepala terlalu banyak. Kalau spion tengah udah pas, kamu bakal lebih mudah memantau area belakang tanpa repot menoleh.

2. Lanjut ke Spion Samping

Teknologi mobil sekarang makin canggih. Banyak model yang udah dilengkapi tuas kecil di pintu samping buat nyetel spion secara elektrik. Tapi kalau mobil kamu masih pakai model manual, tinggal sesuaikan pakai tuas atau dorong cerminnya langsung.

Pastikan spion samping memperlihatkan sebagian kecil bodi mobil dan sebagian besar jalan di belakang, ini penting buat meminimalkan blind spot.

3. Fokus ke Spion Pengemudi

Khusus buat spion sisi pengemudi, atur supaya kamu bisa melihat mobil di belakang sekaligus sedikit sisi samping mobilmu sendiri. Posisi ini membantu kamu menghitung jarak kendaraan di belakang, terutama waktu mau pindah jalur.

4. Jangan Lupa Spion Sisi Penumpang

Spion sisi penumpang juga punya peran penting, terutama buat memantau sisi kiri kendaraan. Kalau masih pakai spion manual, kamu mungkin perlu sedikit usaha ekstra buat nyesuaikan posisinya dari kursi penumpang. Tapi hasilnya sepadan, area blind spot bisa jauh berkurang.

5. Cek Ulang Semua Spion Sebelum Jalan

Setelah semua disetel, duduk lagi di kursi pengemudi dan pastikan sudut pandang dari ketiga spion sudah pas. Coba lihat apakah kamu bisa memantau area belakang dan samping mobil dengan jelas. Dengan begitu, kamu bakal lebih pede saat nyalip, mundur, atau parkir.

Meski terkesan remeh, kebiasaan menyetel spion sebelum jalan bisa jadi pembeda antara perjalanan aman dan risiko kecelakaan. Jadi, jangan cuma fokus ke setir dan pedal gas. Ingat juga, spion kecilmu itu pahlawan besar di jalanan.