How often should mirrors be checked while driving?

The appropriate frequency for checking mirrors while driving is every 3-5 seconds. This practice ensures that drivers maintain a clear awareness of their surroundings, including the positions of other vehicles, pedestrians, and potential hazards. Regularly checking mirrors aids in situational awareness and contributes to safer driving by allowing drivers to anticipate and react to changes in their environment.

Checking mirrors at this interval helps reinforce a proactive approach to driving, ensuring that the driver is constantly informed about traffic conditions behind and beside them. This is particularly important in situations where lane changes or merges may occur, as well as for monitoring vehicles that may be following closely behind.

While checking mirrors every 8-10 seconds or once every minute might lead to a lapse in awareness, and only checking mirrors when changing lanes can be too infrequent to ensure safety. Regular checking every 3-5 seconds strikes a balance, fostering vigilance without becoming overly distracting.