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Mirrors
One of the top ten reasons for failing a driving test is incorrect use of mirrors.
MSPSLAD - Mirror, Signal, Position, Speed, Look, Assess, Decide.
When approaching any kind of hazard, you first assess the situation around you, by checking your mirrors. Most mirror checks are in pairs, rear view followed by side view. Then tell everyone what you're going to do by signalling if necessary, and carry out the move (position, speed, look, assess, decide) using the information gleaned from checking. Call this your Hazard Routine.
If you are heading towards a situation where you might need to change your speed, then you need to know what's behind - for example a lorry, or an older car, which may need more time for braking. So check your rear view mirror. Call it the speed mirror. Otherwise you risk getting hit from behind.
If you might soon need to turn the steering wheel either to the right or the left, then you need to know if anything is approaching from behind in that direction e.g. a cyclist or motorbike, or an emergency vehicle, or anything else for that matter. So check your right or left mirrors accordingly. Call them your direction mirrors.
Don't leave the mirror check until you are actually carrying out the move, it's too late then to deal with whatever is there. If you didn't have time to check the mirrors, then you weren't looking far enough ahead. Or you were going too fast.
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