Ask a Technician: How can I improve my visibility while driving?

Brought to you by Folger Subaru

When driving your car, it is absolutely vital that your visibility is as clear as possible. Your ability to see the road and other road users could literally be the difference between life and death, so you cannot afford to take any chances. If you want to ensure that you have the best possible visibility, follow these five simple tips.

Check things out with a test drive. Why buy a car in the first place that has poor visibility? The test drive is the perfect opportunity to establish whether this is going to be a car that you can “really” drive or not. Put “all-round visibility” high on your list of buying criteria—if you are not convinced, don’t buy.

Get a parking camera. Many modern cars come with a parking camera as a standard or available option. This is particularly important if you are driving a car with a higher ride height, which can make it very difficult to see behind the car when parking. A parking camera can help save the driver from a neck injury, and will ensure that your car avoids a rear collision. You can often get a parking camera installed fairly economically your dealership if your car doesn’t have one.

Adjust your mirrors. You can correct the car’s blind spot by adjusting your side rear-view mirrors. The angle of the driver’s mirror should be set to fifteen degrees. You can do this by leaning your head so that it’s even with the side window and then adjusting the mirror until you can just see the side of your car. Do this for the other mirror as well while still keeping your head in the center of the car.

Use parking sensors. Parking sensors are a simple but very useful feature available on many cars. Radar sensors determine how close the rear of your car is to any potential hazards and sound an increasingly frantic noise the closer you get. Parking sensors increasingly appear as standard, but you could also ask your dealership technician to install them for you.

Develop good visibility habits. Your car is a dangerous machine, so treat it with respect and common sense. Ensure that you leave nothing in the rear window which can obscure your vision. Ensure that the dash is kept clear and, above all, ensure that the car’s windows are kept clean. Make sure that there is also washing fluid available so that you can remove any dirt from the windshield.

Good visibility is a critical part of road safety, so take steps to make sure you maintain excellent visibility whenever you are on the road. Give us a call at Folger Subaru for more information. We're here to help you get in to the best car and be safe while driving.