How often should you check your mirrors while driving?

Checking your mirrors regularly while driving is essential for safe driving practices. It allows you to stay aware of your surroundings, including the position of other vehicles, potential hazards, and your own vehicle's position on the road. This awareness is critical when you are preparing to change lanes or make turns, as it helps you to execute these maneuvers safely and effectively.

Regular mirror checks ensure that you can assess the speed and distance of cars behind and beside you, allowing for informed decisions about when it is safest to change position on the road. Additionally, maintaining an ongoing assessment of your environment helps in anticipating the actions of other drivers and responding appropriately, which is a key aspect of defensive driving.

This practice contrasts with other approaches where checking mirrors is limited to specific moments, such as entering a freeway or waiting at traffic signals, which would not provide the continuous situational awareness necessary for safe driving.