Vehicle Controls and Ergonomics
Adjusting Side Mirrors to Actually Reduce Blind Spots
Last reviewed: 2026 · Driviology Road Safety Education Team
Quick Answer
Side mirrors should be angled outward until just the edge of your own vehicle is visible, which extends coverage further around the sides than the narrower, overlapping setup many drivers default to.
Side mirrors are one specific piece of the full mirror adjustment method covered more broadly elsewhere in this guide.
The Right Angle
Angling side mirrors outward until only the edge of the vehicle is visible extends coverage into the area a narrower setup would miss entirely.
Working Alongside a Rearview Mirror
Side mirrors set this way complement, rather than duplicate, the coverage a rearview mirror already provides.
Still Not a Full Replacement for a Shoulder Check
Even correctly adjusted side mirrors, along with any blind spot mirrors added to them, do not fully replace a physical shoulder check.