I still don't agree. In my eyes its simply something that shouldn't be approached with compromise in mind.

ITT: different opinions with different views, everyone acting like everyone is all the same and should act the same. Might as well become robots

^^^ this. Different folks different strokes... I don't get why I'm getting kinda flamed for how I "check my mirrors." I'm glad after reading this whole thread that I'm not the only one here who looks over their shoulders.

Always have and always will. Mostly habit from truck driving days. In some cars I have to bend forward a bit and in some I can just turn my head so even one person can't really say "this is what you must do all the time". In Ontario (and I believe BC) it is an instant fail to not do a shoulder check during a lane change on your driver's test.

Yep, I forgot to mention the moms that are driving the mini-vans, while tending to their kids in the back seat ...... :drool:


humfrz

You don't have to compromise.

You also don't have to turn your torso so fast to the point where the seatbelt lockup mechanism is engaged.

That's what is being debated here... not one's ability to check blind spots, but rather to do it in a fashion that isn't causing danger to both the driver as well as other cars.

-alex

Except that not everyone can. If you're sitting far enough back, the pillar is in the way, and you have to lean forward a bit to see the entire blind spot.

I have to do that, and I have had the seat belt lock on me. But it wasn't nearly the crisis that OP experienced.

You seem to be under the impression that turning only your head to check your blind spot is wrong, or less safe, its not. Putting your chin to your shoulder and keeping the rest of your body perfectly straight is actually the proper way to check your blind spot. Turning your body or twisting your shoulders can cause you to veer in the direction your are merging. That's why, in drivers ed, your are always taught to check by turning your head. With your mirrors properly adjusted, a simple head turn is all that is needed to see the blind spot, this is true for almost all cars.

The only exception would be if your seat happens to be positioned next to the B pillar and it obstructs your view (super tall people or guys with wangster lean). In that case you should lean forward and turn your head without turning your body. If you have mastered checking your blind spot by turning and looking over your shoulder then good for you keep doing that, but don't act like its safer to do so.

Source: reading through my old driver's ed handbook.