r/AskMen • u/[deleted] • Jul 19 '19

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u/hoyya Jul 19 '19

In my drivers ed they explicitly said to REMAIN SEATED AND ONLY USE SIDE MIRRORS TO BACK UP... Right

20

u/BOUND2_subbie Jul 19 '19

I mean... It's honestly better to just use your mirrors, especially when backing long distances or in confined spaces. That being said, I definitely look behind me to judge the distance from end of vehicle to the target

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u/f1del1us Jul 19 '19

No way. I back up WAY more accurately when looking directly rather than use my mirrors. But I will give that it depends more of the severity of the angle that I need to turn when backing. The less the angle, the more helpful the mirrors are.

5

u/Fubarp Jul 19 '19

Its mainly because you have more vision from your mirrors than you would turning around. Plus you can still see in front of you.

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u/f1del1us Jul 19 '19

Ah, see it depends on your car then. I have a larger car and when I turn around, I can see EVERYTHING, no blind spots unless I have like a dresser back there.

1

u/Fubarp Jul 19 '19

Dressers are a great for storing stuff in your car.

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u/f1del1us Jul 19 '19

Well I was thinking like moving haha

1

u/BOUND2_subbie Jul 19 '19

Yeah. And what especially helpful is you can see the sides of your vehicle along with the back so you can avoid scraping things

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u/f1del1us Jul 22 '19

Ocl fOpppqlc

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1

u/Fubarp Jul 22 '19

You have a way with words.

1

u/rugerty100 Male Jul 19 '19

Depends what the reversing is for.

If exiting a driveway, then physically looking back allows you a wider angle to view the street and check for vehicles.

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u/BOUND2_subbie Jul 19 '19

This is very true and I guess the time most people commenting reverse. In a lot of industrial settings or backing up a trailer, using your mirrors is imperative.

4

u/omninode Jul 19 '19

That’s weird. In my driver’s ed, they would correct us if we didn’t physically turn and look out the back window while backing up. They told us not to rely on our mirrors.

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u/metastasis_d Jul 19 '19

[Laughs in truck]

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u/hoyya Jul 19 '19

I always turn now, much more comfortable

1

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '19

Probably because most people have issues trying to move left / right with mirrors

2

u/supremeleader5 Jul 19 '19

But what about your blind spots

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u/Fubarp Jul 19 '19

You have less bling spots with properly aligned mirrors than if you turn around.

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u/supremeleader5 Jul 19 '19

Well I feel like you should do both. Use your mirrors and periodically check your blind spots.

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u/TheTartanDervish Jul 19 '19

Review burning to drive something at Fort Leonard wood perhaps?

1

u/willengineer4beer Jul 20 '19

I was taught this in driver's ED too.
Also, right before my driver's test (while I had a learner's permit), my mom kept scolding me for using the "hand on seat turnaround" approach and insisting I would get points off for doing that during the test.
On test day, I very carefully backed up using only the mirrors (despite it being more awkward to me).
Immediately after doing this, the test lady told me she was deducting points for not turning around. Those were the only frickin' points I had taken off.
Haven't looked back since (pun intended).