How often should you check your rearview mirror while driving?

Checking your rearview mirror about every 10 seconds is essential for safe driving because it helps maintain awareness of your surroundings. Regularly looking in the rearview mirror allows you to monitor the behavior of vehicles approaching from behind and ensures that you are cognizant of any potential hazards, such as a vehicle closing in quickly or someone driving aggressively.

This practice also aids in maintaining a safe following distance and prepares you for any actions you may need to take, such as changing lanes or adjusting your speed. Constant vigilance through the rearview mirror fosters a comprehensive understanding of the traffic dynamics around you, leading to safer decision-making on the road.

While some might consider looking every 5 seconds to be overly cautious, this frequency may lead to distraction and reduce focus on the road ahead. Checking every 15 seconds might not provide timely information on fast-moving traffic conditions, which could compromise safety. Relying on the mirror only when changing lanes also ignores the broader context of driving, which requires constant situational awareness.