Mirrors and observation when pulling away:

When you are preparing to pull away, try to keep your eyes outside of the car, to make sure that you know what is happening all around you. While you are putting the car in gear check the interior mirror. Then the driver's door mirror. Once you are ready to go, and you think it is clear - check your left blindspot, the road ahead, your interior mirror, driver's door mirror, and right blindspot. If you're still sure it's clear, re-check the right blindspot, as you release the handbrake, and move away. A way to remember where to look is to start your observation on the left side, and sweep around, and finish on the right side blindspot (If you are stopped on the right side of the road swap right for left, etc).

The blindspot:
On each side of the car is an area that you can't see in the door mirror, and you can't see when you are looking ahead . It can only be observed by turning your head and looking over your shoulder. There could be a parked car about to pull away hidden in this area, or on a wide road even a bus! There could possibly be a whole side turning that you cannot see (photo below).

The last thing you should do before you pull away is check the blindspot !

If there is other traffic, or pedestrians about, you need to indicate before you go. It can be difficult to release the handbrake, and indicate, and move away promptly. To make it easier, as long as you are not on an uphill, you can release the handbrake and hold the car on the footbrake while you are waiting.  If you are pulling away from the side of the road on a 2-lane section, such as a dual carriageway or a one-way: - It must be clear in both lanes before you go, because a car in the right lane may be intending to pull back in to the left in front of you.

A common test failure when pulling away is making an approaching vehicle slow down.

Using the mirrors while driving:
You need to use your internal mirror before you speed up or slow down, before indicating, and before pulling in or out. Before you move, or turn, to the left or right you also need to use your side door mirror. It is good practice to check about every 5 seconds, and every time you change gear. Most importantly use your mirrors every time you see a hazard ahead, because that's when you are likely to have to take action, and you need to know what's around you before you do. Only look briefly though, too long and you may swerve all over the road. You are looking for danger, not detail. You don't want to know what the number plate of the car behind is, but you do want to know whether he is moving into an overtaking postion or not (photo below):

It is necessary to use both the interior and door mirrors as part of your observation sequence, because you have a different view in each. In the interior mirror you may see someone closing up fast from behind, whereas in the right door mirror they aren't visible. Yet in the right door mirror you may see a vehicle overtaking, but they are too far to your right to see in the interior mirror. Try not to use the two mirrors consecutively though as it takes your eyes off the road for too long. Separating their use gives you time to look back at the road ahead and also serves as a means of observing people around you after they have had time to react to your indicator. Do make sure though that you are not looking in the mirror when you should be looking at something more important in front of you. Timing is everything!

The correct sequence is:    Mirror (internal) ;   Signal;   Mirror (side);   Manoeuvre

On your driving test your examiner, once he has given any instruction, has been trained to to look at you until you look in the mirror. Missing a mirror check is usually a minor fault. But if it causes a problem with another vehicle because you haven't seen it, then it is a failure. There are 3 categories of mirror faults: before indicating, before changing speed, before changing position. If you get more than 3 minors within any category, it will probably be marked as a serious fault and be a failure.

Example:
You are approaching a roundabout and have been asked to turn 3rd exit right. The first thing you should do is check your interior mirror twice, for any closing traffic from behind, and so that the examiner sees you do it. Then check your right door mirror for anyone that may be about to overtake. Signal right and re-check your door mirror. Move gently into the correct lane, checking the door mirror again as you move across. Check the interior mirror again before slowing down. Check the interior mirror again as you change gear. You enter the roundabout, and position in the right hand lane. As you go around to the 3rd exit, check your interior mirror to see what's coming around behind you. Re-check your road position to make sure that you are not going to drive up the roundabout kerb. Check the left door mirror to see if there's anything next to you. Interior mirror again, look to the 3rd exit, Signal, left door mirror. Begin to straighten towards the exit, left door mirror. Left door mirror again as gap on left narrows down into the exit.

This does seem a lot of mirror checks, but each one only takes a fraction of a second. If you practice checking like this will be second nature.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Question:
Why do I need to look in my mirror before I brake?

Answer:
Because what's behind may affect the way you brake. If someone is very
close behind it would be better to brake early and gently, so that they don't
drive into you.

 

Question:
Why do I need to look before a hazard?

Answer: 
You need to know what's happening around you because it may affect how you deal with the hazard. For example: If you had a bus very close behind, you      wouldn't brake sharply. Or, if you were being overtaken by a fast car you       wouldn't swerve to the right.

 

Question:
Why do I need to look before I indicate?

Answer:
Because in some circumstances you may want to indicate at a certain time to avoid confusion. For example: You want to change lanes on a dual-carriageway and someone is coming up fast behind. If you indicate without checking your mirrors, and they are close, they may hesitate, and you won't know whether it is safe to move over or not. Whereas if you use your mirrors, and then decide to indicate once they've gone past, no problem!