Use of Mirrors – Ensuring Safe Driving Decisions

Mirrors are essential for maintaining full awareness of your surroundings while driving. The examiner will closely assess how well you use mirrors before making any maneuvers. Failing to check mirrors properly can lead to serious or dangerous faults, especially when signaling, changing direction, or adjusting speed.

Using Mirrors Before Signalling

1. How to Use Mirrors Correctly:
  1. Always check your mirrors before signaling to ensure it is safe to indicate your intention.
  2. Use the Mirror-Signal-Manoeuvre (MSM) routine:
    1. Mirrors – Check the relevant mirrors.
    2. Signal – Only if it's safe to do so.
    3. Manoeuvre – Move after confirming it's clear.
  3. Be aware of vehicles in your blind spot before signaling, especially when changing lanes.
  4. Avoid misleading signals—if there’s a vehicle close behind, signaling too early may cause confusion.
2. Common Mistakes:
  1. Signaling without checking mirrors – Could mislead other drivers or pedestrians.
  2. Relying only on side mirrors – Always check the rear-view mirror first.
  3. Signaling too early or too late – This can confuse other road users.
3. Examiner Expectations:
  1. Check mirrors before every signal.
  2. Consider the speed and position of other vehicles.
  3. Give clear and timely signals only when necessary.
4. Real-Life Learning from a Failed Test:

A learner failed because they signaled left for a lane change without checking their left mirror, leading to a near miss with a cyclist. The examiner marked this as a serious fault for not using mirrors correctly before signaling.

Using Mirrors Before Changing Direction

1. How to Use Mirrors Correctly:
  1. Before turning, overtaking, or changing lanes, check rear-view and side mirrors to assess traffic.
  2. Use the MSPSL (Mirrors-Signal-Position-Speed-Look) routine:
    1. Mirrors – Check the relevant mirrors.
    2. Signal – If safe, indicate your intention.
    3. Position – Move into the correct lane or road position.
    4. Speed – Adjust your speed accordingly.
    5. Look – Always glance at blind spots.
  3. Be extra careful when approaching roundabouts, junctions, and one-way streets.
2. Common Mistakes:
  1. Not checking mirrors before moving lanes – Can result in dangerous situations.
  2. Only checking one mirror – Always check both the rear-view and side mirrors.
  3. Turning too quickly after checking mirrors – Give yourself time to react.
3. Examiner Expectations:
  1. Use mirrors before every lane change, turn, or roundabout entry.
  2. Check both rear-view and side mirrors for surrounding traffic.
  3. Avoid last-minute mirror checks.
4. Real-Life Learning from a Failed Test:

A learner failed when attempting a lane change without checking their right mirror. Another car was approaching quickly, and the learner almost swerved into them. This resulted in a dangerous fault and immediate failure.

Using Mirrors Before Changing Speed

1. How to Use Mirrors Correctly:
  1. Always check mirrors before braking or accelerating to avoid causing danger to vehicles behind.
  2. If slowing down significantly (e.g., for traffic, speed bumps, or junctions), check your rear-view mirror to assess the distance of the vehicle behind.
  3. If increasing speed, check your side mirrors to ensure it is safe to do so, especially when merging onto motorways or dual carriageways.
  4. Use the MSM routine to avoid sudden speed changes that could cause collisions.
2. Common Mistakes:
  1. Braking suddenly without checking mirrors – Can lead to rear-end collisions.
  2. Speeding up without checking for merging traffic – Can cause accidents.
  3. Ignoring mirrors in stop-start traffic – Always be aware of vehicles behind you.
3. Examiner Expectations:
  1. Check mirrors before every significant speed change.
  2. Be aware of the distance between your car and the vehicle behind.
  3. Avoid unnecessary braking or acceleration.
4. Real-Life Learning from a Failed Test:

A learner failed for braking suddenly at a junction without checking their rear-view mirror. The car behind had to brake sharply, nearly causing a collision. The examiner marked this as a serious fault for poor mirror use.