Over-shoulder checks on motorways

[.blue]

Both the professional driving instructors I've had (i.e. 'L-test' instructor and Pass Plus Instructor) suggest that shoulder checks should always be carried out when changing lane, merging onto a new road etc.

Normally I only do it when merging onto a new road or if for some reason I haven't checked my mirrors for a while or don't have a good idea of what exactly is behind me.

However, when driving with my parents they both say it's a bad habit, especially on faster roads as according to them, mirrors should be enough and by doing shoulder checks I'm taking my attention off the road ahead. This was at night in heavy rain when all I could see in my mirrors were headlights, it was difficult to judge distance of cars with only mirrors.

What's the advanced driving stance on this?
Thanks

[Smiler.]

Always do one - they call it a lifesaver for a reason

[Strangely Brown]

They're called "blind-spots" for a reason too.

Edited by Strangely Brown on Wednesday 15th July 09:18

[pitbull turbo]

i would always advise checking over the shoulder! i had two occasions this week there cars where either under taking or moving lanes well over the speed limit without indicators and i would have hit them and quite high speeds if i hadn't have looked over my shoulders. the vissablity from my fiat coupe is quite bad anyway but i would always advise this.

[johnao]

Hi .blue

Always, Always, Always do a shoulder check... as Smiler says it's called a... "lifesaver" for a reason.

If anyone tells you otherwise, tell them in no uncertain terms that... if they can't find one, or even two, seconds to avert their attention from the road ahead in order to do a shoulder check then they haven't assessed sufficiently the road ahead nor fully managed the situation in front of them. Maybe they aren't looking far enough ahead, fully taking in and assessing what's going on in front of them, or simply driving too close to the vehicles in front.

Stick to your beliefs; don't be brow beaten by others who think they know better just because they have accumulated a lifetime of poor driving habits.

[monthefish]

Always do.

My car has got a bit of a blind spot and an over-shoulder check is essential.

[jaf01uk]

We do a little exercise with stoodents, get them to watch a vehicle moving past with a small speed difference on D/C or M/Way in their door mirror until it disappears then turn your head to see where it is, the bonnet is usually level with your shoulder and as such the shoulder check doesn't mean turning your head like an owl!
Gary

[The Black Flash]

What everyone else has said...do 'em! Just don't be too close to the car in front when you do...

[Strangely Brown]

jaf01uk said:

We do a little exercise with stoodents, get them to watch a vehicle moving past with a small speed difference on D/C or M/Way in their door mirror until it disappears then turn your head to see where it is, the bonnet is usually level with your shoulder and as such the shoulder check doesn't mean turning your head like an owl!

You only need turn your head about 90deg to the right (or left) and only for long enough to see that there is nothing there. The whole thing takes (probably less than) a second. The rest of the area should be covered by properly adjusted mirrors and situational awareness. It's just a final "make sure".

As has already been pointed out: If you cannot safely divert your attention from "straight ahead" for a second to check other areas then there is something more fundamentally wrong with your driving.

p.s. Please forgive the horrible split-infinitive.

[1950trevorP]

May I suggest another "arrow in your quiver"?

A LEFT shoulder check before moving to exit any roundabout.

[WhoseGeneration]

Indeed, mirrors, ns or os, do not provide a totality of information.
Shoulder check to os, on any road, might save you, shoulder check to ns might save you too on the motorway, or a cyclist on other roads.
You can never have too much information about your situation.

[Arisutea]

I always do it. I always do it even when I'm a passenger too!

I've only ever not done it once, checked my mirrors, tried to pull out, and there was an Escort with an irate looking person in it. I did notice luckily, albeit a foot away from them. I knew exactly what had happened, I didn't actually check. Scared the crap out of me that day. I always check now though!

[Jem Thompson]

I always do, I tend to look out the rear side window rather than above the door.

[The Black Flash]

Arisutea said:

I always do it. I always do it even when I'm a passenger too!

I've only ever not done it once, checked my mirrors, tried to pull out, and there was an Escort with an irate looking person in it. I did notice luckily, albeit a foot away from them. I knew exactly what had happened, I didn't actually check. Scared the crap out of me that day. I always check now though!

Yeah, it focuses the mind, doesn't it?

The one which is really nasty on motorways is where you move from L1 to L2, at the same time as someone moves from L3 to L2. Looking over my shoulder has saved me from that several times, and I've seen a number of very near misses occur to other people.

[G_T]

1950trevorP said:

May I suggest another "arrow in your quiver"?

A LEFT shoulder check before moving to exit any roundabout.

Or changing lanes!

[PeteG]

G_T said:

1950trevorP said:

May I suggest another "arrow in your quiver"?

A LEFT shoulder check before moving to exit any roundabout.

Or changing lanes!

Shoulder checking when you're crossing paint is a good habit to get into.

[p1esk]

PeteG said:

G_T said:

1950trevorP said:

May I suggest another "arrow in your quiver"?

A LEFT shoulder check before moving to exit any roundabout.

Or changing lanes!

Shoulder checking when you're crossing paint is a good habit to get into.

If you do that these days with the amount of paint we have on the roads, you'll have no time to look where you're going.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[1950trevorP]

PeteG said:

Shoulder checking when you're crossing paint is a good habit to get into.

Erm, No.

BEFORE you "cross paint" .

[RenesisEvo]

Can I recommend adjusting your offside mirror to help with this? By adjusting it outward, so I can only just see a fraction of the edge of the rear in it, I find that if a car is moving past me, as it moves out of view of the mirror, it immediately appears in my side view, thus whilst I have to look to the side, I don't need to really twist and look right over my shoulder, only just turn my head a bit to the side. I realise you could lose a bike in the B-pillar but all the times a bike has passed me I've never had an issue.

Does make parking a little more tricky, but hey, if you can't park, advanced driving might not be your thing.

[Fat Audi 80]

RenesisEvo said:

Can I recommend adjusting your offside mirror to help with this? By adjusting it outward, so I can only just see a fraction of the edge of the rear in it, I find that if a car is moving past me, as it moves out of view of the mirror, it immediately appears in my side view, thus whilst I have to look to the side, I don't need to really twist and look right over my shoulder, only just turn my head a bit to the side. I realise you could lose a bike in the B-pillar but all the times a bike has passed me I've never had an issue.

Does make parking a little more tricky, but hey, if you can't park, advanced driving might not be your thing.

Which is what I class as mirros in the "Advanced Driving" position, as recommended by the Police Drivers Handbook. This does not negate a lifesaver, but does increase the field of vision of all your rear mirrors....

Cheers,

Steve