Eliminating Blind Spots

I wrote a column on this topic eight years ago, but some things have changed since then, so I am reposting it with an added feature I didn't have in 2006; a video to illustrate my point.  Be sure to click on it after you read the column.

Some of the most serious preventable accidents occur because of blind spots while driving!  Now there is a remarkably simple solution discovered by an engineer named George Platter.  He presented his method at the prestigious Society of Automotive Engineers back in 2006, but many people have either never seen his presentation, or neglect to try it out.

The National Safety Council tested his theory and discovered, to their amazement, that it works!  The method has been fully endorsed by them. Here's how it works.
 

First, forget how we learned to adjust our outside mirrors by plopping behind the steering wheel and turning the mirrors, or having someone else do it from outside the car, so that we just saw along the sides of our car in the mirrors.

Instead, you want to adjust the driver's side mirror by resting your head against the driver's side window and then turning the mirror so that your view of the side of your car just goes out of sight from that perspective. You might see the rear door handle if you're in a four door car, but nothing else of the side.

Once the driver's side mirror is positioned, lean over toward the center of the vehicle and turn the passenger side mirror so that your view of the side right side also goes away.

If your car is equipped with electric mirror adjustment, you can perform the adjustments yourself.  Otherwise, get a helper to do the adjustments while you direct them.

That's it. You won't see your own car in either mirror, yet what you will see is far better.  Cars behind you show up as usual in the inside rear-view mirror attached to your windshield, but the instant the car leaves your field of vision from the rear-view mirror the outside mirror picks it up.  No blind spot; no delays; no wondering where that car that was about to pass you has disappeared to, and no waiting a few seconds for the car that you just saw in your rear-view mirror to show up in your outside mirrors.  All three mirrors work in harmony with one another, and the blind spot has been eliminated!

Reflections on 2014

This is my final entry for the year, so I thought I would try to make it my annual newsletter, or what passes for same.  I promise not to make it too boring, but you always have the delete button if it does get out of hand..

First of all I want to get something off my chest that bothers me more and more every year.  We are truly becoming a society of nerds.  We only seem to socialize with each other through electronic communicators; nobody actually interacts with their friends and relatives.  A stunning example is the paucity of Christmas Cards we received this year.  Judy sent out over thirty cards, but we only got a dozen cards in the mail from those same people who used to send one every year.  Of course, we got lots of email cards with family pictures attached and warm Christmas greetings via some artist or computer geek - Jackie Lawson comes to mind - but those just don't convey the same meaning as a snail mail card that somebody had to select, add their greetings and signature to and then seal and stamp it for posting.  It just isn't the same, folks!

We did our usual road-tripping this year which included four separate trips. If you get my trip journals, you'll know where we went, but there were a few that didn't make it into the journal stage.  One of the most fun ones was the trip up to Niagara Falls with the son and grand kids.  That one included a reptile and dinosaur zoo and a day at an amusement park that actually has no admission fee, just per-ride tickets and very reasonably priced at that.

I didn't have any heath episodes this year, but Judy did have a bit of a scare and was the one I took to the ER for a change instead of the other way around.  It turned out to be a temporary and curable type illness, so everything is back to normal now.

My daughter, Cathy, has had super success with her cottage industry in scrapbooking, and is always busy filling online sales of video tutorials as well as her scrapbook creations.  The scrapbooks bring some amazing bids, but then, they are masterpieces, if I may boast a bit here.  Cathy has built a nice little business for herself.  You can see some of her scrapbooks and tutorial samples by doing a search using the words, "So much scrap" (without the quotation marks) in your favorite search engine.  They really are beautiful.

We decided to trade in the Toyota Sienna van back in February, and bought a RAV4 to replace it.  We've had some adjustment problems, but are learning to appreciate the new SUV more each time we travel in it.  We just can't take along as much as we used to, but it gets great mileage and drives like a dream - so Judy tells me; I've never gotten behind the wheel.

I still haven't gotten to attend The Masters Golf  Tournament, although I've been in the raffle for several years.  I did, however, get to go on the grounds this spring to watch the Drive, Pitch and Putt Competition.  Jeff, my son-in-law went with me and we spent several hours enjoying the course.  Jeff is the avid golfer, so I know he wants to get in there to watch the actual pros play someday.  I've already lost out for 2015, but will keep on trying.  I'm just too cheap to pay up to $1,000 for a one-day pass, though.

The grandson here in Augusta went through a few employers this past year, but is now firmly ensconced at Lowe's, working mostly in the Paint Department and doing a fine job there.  His hours aren't all that he would like, but at least the pay is good for those he does work and he is building skills for himself.

I trust that everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and is celebrating the holidays with friends and family.  I look forward to a new year full of promise and adventure and I hope you do too.  Keep on counting your blessings, try not to have any regrets and we'll be just fine. 

Happy New Year!