While driving, is it necessary to use the rear-view mirrors regularly?

Correct answer

Yes, even if no manoeuvre is going to be carried out.

The driver must not only look at the vehicle in front, but must remain attentive and take in the rest of the road information sufficiently early to analyse it and react appropriately. For this reason, it is recommended to: Look into the distance. You should look at where you will be in 20 seconds. Look to the sides frequently. The driver takes longer to react to what happens at the edge of their field of vision, so if they constantly look only straight ahead, they will take much longer to react to what is happening on the road. Look in the mirrors. They should be checked frequently even when no manoeuvre is being carried out. The minimum frequency is: on urban roads and roads with heavy traffic, every 5–10 seconds; on roads without traffic and on motorways, every 10–15 seconds. Turn your head slightly to avoid the mirrors’ blind spot: when making lateral movements, turn your head by a maximum of 45 degrees.