Blind spots

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kelmac

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Hello everyone, I am seriously interested in a PHEV and had it narrowed to the Volt or the Clarity. The Clarity seems like the clear winner except that there is no real Blind Spot Assist. On the Volt you can upgrade and get that feature.

Currently I am driving a fish bowl (a 1997 Subaru Outback Sport). I know that plenty of people drive with their mirrors only but I'm looking for real world stories from anyone like me that made the transition from a car that you could double check by looking over your shoulder to a modern car with wide rear pillars where you really feel like you're flying blind.

Also, I have a 14 year old who will be driving in about 2 years. Am I better off going with the larger (presumably safer) car that you are more likely to survive an accident in or the smaller car with the whiz bang technology that --in theory at least-- should make it easier to avoid the accident in the first place?

Thanks so much.
 
I've yet to have a problem with side or rear visibility. I don't rely on mirrors. There really aren't any blind spots back there or to the side, but it will be nice when the car gets better blind spot electronics.
 
I sat in a Volt, and besides having to cram into a sardine can with no practical back seat, the sight lines were terrible. Just because of the poor over all visibility, it’s the last car I’d put a new teenage driver in.
You do give up the rear cross traffic alert, but the wide angle option on the back up camera helps somewhat and maybe it’s a good thing to teach a new driver to look, look, look; and not put all their trust in a gizmo.
I’d go with the larger, better visibility car as being safer overall than the shoebox with rear cross traffic alert.
Hondas always score well in crash safety and the Clarity has every airbag know to man. And in wrecks between small/light and large/heavy, guess who usually wins?
So I’d choose the Clarity-more room, more comfort, better visibility, an all around better car, and safer to boot IMHO.

And I’d also be tempted to turn off or cover up the center infotainment screen for a little while as he’s learning to keep his eyes on the road.
Oh, and my iron clad rule: use your phone while the car is in motion and you loose your phone and keys for a while. (My son is now 25 and a very safe driver. A teenagers cell phone is an amazing carrot and stick!)
 
KentuckyKen said:
And I’d also be tempted to turn off or cover up the center infotainment screen for a little while as he’s learning to keep his eyes on the road.
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That's a great idea. I think even experienced drivers can be distracted by the screen. I know I've noticed that it takes an extra beat or two to process what the thing is trying to tell me. And I rode as a passenger yesterday in a friend's new Pilot. Watching him focus on the screen was educational. And a little scary.
 
Just out of curiosity, but what exactly is wrong with just using a convex tape-on mirror? I think it's crazy that's people drive while looking over their shoulder. It also seems over-the-top to need something a $2 item from Walmart can do perfectly fine.
 
peekay said:
Just out of curiosity, but what exactly is wrong with just using a convex tape-on mirror? I think it's crazy that's people drive while looking over their shoulder. It also seems over-the-top to need something a $2 item from Walmart can do perfectly fine.
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Isn't the convex left edge of the Clarity's driver-side mirror as good as a tape-on convex mirror?

I've never driven a car with blind-spot warning beepers, but based on how frequently its absence is derided, it must be the most important and infallible safety invention ever. Does it let you just jam a car in reverse and step on the gas instead of slowly backing out of a parking space?
 
insightman said:
Isn't the convex left edge of the Clarity's driver-side mirror as good as a tape-on convex mirror?

I've never driven a car with blind-spot warning beepers, but based on how frequently its absence is derided, it must be the most important and infallible safety invention ever. Does it let you just jam a car in reverse and step on the gas instead of slowly backing out of a parking space?
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Haha, yeah, and it let's you parallel park the same way, ie, stomp on gas and go.

The stock convex is a joke. It's not nearly convex enough. But given hundreds of thousands of big trucks are on the road with convex mirrors, it always made me wonder why people would be ok with looking over their shoulders. That momentary lapse has to be as bad as texting and driving. Worst yet, some people don't just look over at their blind spot but substitute it for a side view mirror by looking all the way back. Scary.
 
insightman said:
Isn't the convex left edge of the Clarity's driver-side mirror as good as a tape-on convex mirror?

I've never driven a car with blind-spot warning beepers, but based on how frequently its absence is derided, it must be the most important and infallible safety invention ever. Does it let you just jam a car in reverse and step on the gas instead of slowly backing out of a parking space?
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I would say the convex left edge is not as good as the tape-on convex mirror. IMO, it is not convex enough to eliminate the entire blind spot.

I think the blind-spot beepers or light is a great invention. I think it helps with neck strain by eliminating the need to turn your neck and it can be safer by not taking your eyes off the front.
 
I mounted a blind spot mirror on the inside using a suction phone mount. Here is a pic of it.
blindspot1.webp
suctionmount.webp

Mount and mirror from ebay.
 
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My advice is to teach your kid to not rely fully on the available technology in today’s cars. The clarity doesn’t have blind spot monitoring but it doesn’t matter since I always turn my head to check my blind spots regardless (last car had blind spot monitoring but I still turned my head everytime).

I find I don’t even use the backup camera either because I like to see cross traffic completely. I find backup sensors more useful just for the audible beeps as reassurance that I’m not backing into anything while I’m looking.

I guess I’m just old school.
 
Sorry I think that second mirror is not a good idea , it adds another Blind spot by covering some of your window.
 
I have come to really like the right side view camera. I’m in a university town with lots of bicyclists. Having the camera show me the right view when turning is a major safety improvement over just a blind spot monitor light in the mirror. I wish there was a camera on the left too, though I don’t have blind spot there when driving.
 
We’ve added 3.75” round convex mirrors just like in our previous cars. Really helps with parking to see down for the lines too.


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
 
Young J Kwak said:
I Second This!

Adjust your mirrors to be used As Designed - they are not side rear view mirrors.
If you can see your car from a regular driving position, then you need to turn them out more.
It takes a week or so to get used to it, but after you do, it is Amazing.
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I agree. I don't know why people need to see the side of their car in the rear view mirrors. I turn them out so when the side of the car disappears from the mirrors it's PERFECT! It took me a week or so to get use to it but after 30 years of discovering this trick, I have no problem with blind spots. I do a lot of freeway driving and it has never failed me. My wife has a Volt with blind spot monitor and they cannot catch someone who suddenly moves into the lane next to you. It's not 100% dependable. Seeing it in a mirror is!
 
leehinde said:
That's a great idea. I think even experienced drivers can be distracted by the screen. I know I've noticed that it takes an extra beat or two to process what the thing is trying to tell me. And I rode as a passenger yesterday in a friend's new Pilot. Watching him focus on the screen was educational. And a little scary.
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I use the screen for parking to make sure I don't scratch the wheels or park too far away from side walk. The yellow guideline is great for that purpose.
And it's also useful when your passenger is blocking your right mirror (a few times I had to yell "move you head away") or having things blocking the right shoulder view.

peekay said:
It always made me wonder why people would be ok with looking over their shoulders. That momentary lapse has to be as bad as texting and driving. Worst yet, some people don't just look over at their blind spot but substitute it for a side view mirror by looking all the way back. Scary.
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It's not comparable. You don't spend seconds in looking over your shoulder, it's like a quick glance. You still use your mirror but the glance is the final check to make sure everything is ok.
And during that time you're alert and well aware of you're driving and hand still el.
Unlike texting you literally give up your driving mind into something else.​
 
Valente said:
I agree. I don't know why people need to see the side of their car in the rear view mirrors. I turn them out so when the side of the car disappears from the mirrors it's PERFECT! It took me a week or so to get use to it but after 30 years of discovering this trick, I have no problem with blind spots. I do a lot of freeway driving and it has never failed me. My wife has a Volt with blind spot monitor and they cannot catch someone who suddenly moves into the lane next to you. It's not 100% dependable. Seeing it in a mirror is!
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I do that too but have you noticed that the mirror housing blocks a portion of the mirror when you do that. Not a big deal but you lose some of the usable part of the mirror.
 
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