Does mirror adjustment to fix blind spot work?

Eric Lai

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Q: Jim Kenzie claims that "properly" adjusting mirrors will eliminate blind spots and remove the need for shoulder-checks before changing lanes. Is this a valid technique?

A: In his article, Wheels chief auto reviewer Jim Kenzie advocates that positioning the side and rear-view mirrors on vehicles to eliminate redundancy in their coverage essentially does away with blind spots.

My advice would be to try it out in an empty parking lot or closed area and see if you're comfortable with it. Then try low-speed roads before progressing to expressways with it.

Whatever technique you opt for when changing lanes, you need to remain vigilant throughout the manoeuvre, just in case another driver makes an unexpected move or, perhaps, attempts to make a simultaneous lane change into the same target lane from the opposite side.

Along those same lines, I'd like to advise drivers with a "need for speed" that, as any professional race car driver will tell you, aggressive manoeuvring on public highways is actually a sign of an unskilled driver.

In fact, the faster one drives, the more critical it is to make smooth, gradual moves in order to retain control and minimize loss of speed.

Performing lane changes smoothly and gradually, whenever possible, can also prevent crashes with an unseen driver since there's ample opportunity for warning from either party, whereas abrupt lane changes leave little room for error.

Under S. 154(1)(a) HTA, the onus is on the driver making the lane change (as opposed to the one driving straight ahead in their lane) to ensure the move is completed in safety. Making an unsafe lane change carries a $110 fine, or $180 in a marked Community Safety Zone, plus three demerit points.

Q: I often see cars with dirty, rusty, faded or obscured number plates – particularly with dark tinted plastic plate covers. If there were a hit-and-run collision or other illegal act, I wouldn't be able to provide plate information to a reporting officer.

Do police feel this is a concern they should be focusing on?

A: Sgt. Tim Burrows or Toronto Police Traffic Services replies:

An obscured, dirty, faded or confusing plate hinders the ability of witnesses to identify the plate number if a collision or dangerous act occurs. These are serious offences and the law even allows for an arrest without warrant and seizure of the plate under certain circumstances.

Police frequently enforce plate violations. Having said this, there is an onus on all drivers to maintain their number plates in accordance with the law and, if that means going to the Ministry to replace deteriorated plates, they should do so.

The use of aftermarket tinted plate covers is illegal in Ontario.

An informal check of seven such products at an auto parts store found that all included a prominent warning that "the intended use of these products can be illegal and you should check local laws."

Remember, by law, no part of the licence plate can be obstructed by anything.

Eric Lai adds:

Under section 7 of the provincial Highway Traffic Act, it's an offence to have improperly displayed or invalid/missing number plates and renewal stickers on motor vehicles.

Section 13 HTA covers dirty or obstructed plates, or if any numbers are displayed on or near the plate that might be confused as being part of the tag number, or if the plate can't be accurately photographed (e.g. red-light camera or 407-ETR).

Section 191.3 HTA covers violations for any activity or device used to evade, obstruct or interfere with a toll system.

It's illegal to use, sell, offer to sell, or advertise any such product for sale.

All offences noted above carry a $110 fine.

Email your non-mechanical questions

to Eric Lai at wheels@thestar.ca.

Please include year, make, model and

kilometres of autos cited, plus your name, address and telephone number.

Letters may be edited.

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