Author: Loren Nelson

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Using a Towing Mirror

If you are driving a vehicle which is towing something wider than the rear of your vehicle, you are going to need a towing mirror. Otherwise, all you are going to see out of the existing side mirrors is the trailer, caravan or broken down vehicle you are towing.

Most towing mirrors are physical extensions to the side mirrors you already have. So you end up with two mirrors, showing two different views. When towing you will usually be using the second or outside mirror to see what is coming up alongside.

It takes a while to get used to the technique of looking at the outside mirror and interpreting what you are seeing. The mirror is not where you are used to it being and the perspective is different too.

Just to make things more confusing, some companies offer a flat mirror for the off side and a convex mirror for the near side. That is to take account of the fact that you sit on the off side and so have a closer view. Having a curved mirror gives you more coverage, but once again you get a different perspective. It’s as if your eyes were not on the same level-your whole view of the world would be distorted.

Other companies offer a complete replacement side mirror, which can be extended out on a retractable arm when towing. This reduces the confusion of a plethora of mirrors as you only have one on each side of the vehicle as normal. You can adjust the extension to the length you want and the view you are most comfortable with.

Naturally, any towing mirror will have blind spots and these will be different to those hidden from your usual side mirror and again careful adjustments and familiarization will be needed.

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Increasing driver safety on the road

Driving on the road involves sitting yourself in a small (or large) metal box and hurtling along at high speed, relying on the skill and good sense of complete strangers for your survival! Here are some ways to improve your safety:-

  1. Keep your vehicle properly maintained. Get the experts on it and keep above the minimum legal requirements.
  2. In particular check the tires and brakes. These will work together to get you out of trouble when you most need it. When you need to stop is not the time to find out your brakes are worn or your tires have no grip.
  3. Keep checking the brakes whilst driving, particularly in hilly areas and in the wet.
  4. Rest. Long roads and long hours are a recipe for disaster. Experienced drivers in particular find driving pretty easy and boring. Sleep is a natural but catastrophic result. Stop at regular intervals, take a walk, have a coffee and go again.
  5. Enhance your vision. Keep your lights in working order and use them!
  6. Widen your vision. Keep your mirrors properly adjusted. Work out your blind spots when stationary and invest in some blind spot mirrors. Ensure they are properly and securely fitted and learn what they do and do not give you.
  7. Watch your speed. You need to be able to stop before you hit the guy in front. Take your time on moving in and out of lanes. This gives those around you a chance to see what you are doing and adjust.
  8. Plan your route for your vehicle. You may be familiar with the route in a car, but will your motor home get under that bridge or will your motorbike handle the country lane so well?
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Should motorcycles have blind spot mirrors?

It would be easy to think that motorcycles do not need blind spot mirrors. After all, they are small and there is much less to obstruct the rider’s view. However, the fact is that motorbikes have blind spots too and need blind spot mirrors.

The blind spots on a bike are indeed smaller than those on a car or truck, but they do exist. The rider will find that even with the occasional glance at his wing mirrors, angled as they can be better on a bike than a car, there will be areas to the rear and rear quarter not covered.

As with all side mirrors, the problem is that the view is limited and although they can be adjusted, there is always a gap. On a bike, which has no rear view mirror, the driver may well be tempted to angle the side mirrors in at the rear of the bike. This would allow a good view of the area directly behind.

However, this in turn will enlarge the area to the rear quarter not covered by the mirrors. It would be all too easy for another vehicle, particularly another bike, to be hidden in that area.

The bike should be fitted with blind spot mirrors. This might be extensions to the existing mirrors. They might be fitted over or on to the existing mirrors or they might have long brackets giving a much wider perspective. They might just be in place of the existing mirrors but have a bubble lens, giving a larger field of view, but with a different feel for the distances involved.

Either way, the effect is to cover more of the area behind the rider’s natural and direct field of vision and so cut down the blind spot and increase safety for all.

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Safe Trailer Travels

Traveling with a trailer gives you a load of new challenges in your driving. You can no longer just hop in and go. You need to pay attention to many safety issues.

Your trailer will add length and probably width to your vehicle. It will certainly also add weight. You will have some articulation between the two parts.

You need to check first that the articulation is secure and the trailer will not be lost in transit! The fail-safe links should be on and all light and brake connections made and checked. The license plate should be moved or duplicated.

Then you need to make sure you can move the trailer where you want it. Can you back up with the joint involved? Take the time to do some practice. Feel the weight and the lower speed when pulling away. You will not be able to make snap decisions now.

Make an assessment of the mirror situation. The rear view mirror may now be blocked. Check the side mirrors and their blind spots. You will have less vision with a trailer on back. You need to consider blind spot mirrors. These may be able to extend further out and give you different angles of vision. They may be wide enough out to allow some view of the area actually behind the trailer. Consider rear view cameras. Familiarize yourself with these new devices. Make sure they are all adjusted appropriately and that you can work with them to cut down the blind spots created by your larger new rig.

Make sure the trailer is properly loaded and everything is secure on it

Check the route carefully. You will need to be aware of height and width restrictions and the condition and status of the roads you may want to use.

Enjoy your trailer travels.

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Taking Your Motor Home On Vacation

Taking your motor home on vacation should be an exciting adventure. This is your chance to travel freely and stay where you want. Here are some things to think about as you drive.

  1. Check all the moveable contents are not going to move about whilst you are driving. Store all crockery and cutlery in lockable areas and make sure that larger items like tables and chairs are properly lashed.
  2. Check for dangerous and flammable liquids. Materials like cooking oils, paraffin, heating oils, liquid gas, vehicle gas and even water are all extra hazards. Each container should be checked for leaks and stored where it cannot move and where in the event of a sudden movement or collision, the least risk from such compounds is going to be caused.
  3. Check that the hoses and cables are all unattached and are rolled or stored properly so that damage does not occur whilst in transit. Gas taps in particular must be checked.
  4. Check that all windows, doors and skylights are locked and will not open in the case of high wind or sudden impact.
  5. Check your blind spots. Make sure you are familiar with the dimensions of your motor home and the effect this has on your vision. Invest in some good blind spot mirrors to give yourself the best view possible. Even the most expensive rig will have large blind spots and you should note these with the help of another before you start driving.
  6. Check your journey. Be aware of your route, possible hold ups and obstacles. Check if tolls are present and plan your gas stops before you reach an emergency situation.
  7. Check you have spares of obvious items, like tires and gas bottles, wiper blades and lashing ropes.

Then, hopefully, you can enjoy your vacation.

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How to improve driver safety

There are a number of things which can be done improve driver safety:-

  1. Vehicle body. These are steadily getting stronger and yet more flexible, crumpling on impact to reduce the energy reaching the driver. Get the most modern car or vehicle you can.
  2. Lights. Make sure yours are working and adjusted to hit the road, not the eyes of an oncoming driver.
  3. Seat belt and horn. These basic safety features are still used too infrequently or incorrectly.
  4. Brakes and tires. These must be tested by law but you really want yours at a much higher standard than the legal minimum. Both should be tried by the driver regularly. Hitting the brakes is not the time to find out there is a problem.
  5. Mirrors. These must be correctly sighted and adjusted to keep the blind spots to a minimum. Consider blind spot mirrors to reduce the blind spots. Investigate the best sort for your size and the characteristics of your vehicle. They may extend from out or be fixed to the existing side mirrors.
  6. Speed. Judge speed according to the road conditions at the time. Bear the weather and number of other road users in mind at all times. You need to be able to stop in the distance between you and the next driver. You need to be able to react to danger in the time your speed gives you.
  7. Drink and drugs. There are national and state rules. The scientific evidence is simple. Any drink or drugs make your decision making worse and reactions slower. The simple answer is; do not indulge if you are driving.
  8. Don’t assume. Anticipate errors and make allowances. Give people time and room to make mistakes. It’s no use being in the right and in hospital!
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Why Use A Towing Mirror?

Your car has side mirrors to help show you the picture to the side and rear, so why should you bother changing things when you are towing?

Your side mirrors give you a restricted view of the area to the side and rear quarter of your car. Usually, this is adjusted so that you can see part of the car in those mirrors. This gives you some perspective so you know where you are actually looking at. The side mirrors are designed to fit on and show the view from a car.

Once you are towing, your whole perspective changes. You are no longer driving a car, but a truck or even a tractor and trailer rig. The length of your combined vehicle will be twice if not three times what it was. Your old mirrors will not do. Even with adjustment, they will be showing you a good picture of what you are towing. They will not be covering a large enough area or giving you a picture which is far enough back.

When you move out in your car, you have a feel for the speed and acceleration you can achieve and the distances involved. In your towing scenario, all that changes and what you need to see changes too. You need to see further back and have a wider view. You are otherwise at severe risk of pulling out or changing lanes by moving into someone else’s path. You are an accident waiting to happen.

The aim of the towing mirror is to give you that extra width and depth of vision, so increasing your safety and that of those around you. For that reason, in many areas it is illegal not to have one if what you are towing is wider that what you are driving.