Why are novice drivers reluctant to use side mirrors?

One of the limitations of recording driving faults in the way the DVSA do is that it could give the impression that all the faults listed have the same degree of severity - in terms of consequences.

Driving instructors will know that driving faults differ quite considerably in terms of the risk they pose to road safety.  There is one driving fault that in my opinion would fall into the top slots; observations made around you prior to moving the vehicle left or right.

Research has shown * that there is a marked difference in the use of side mirrors by experienced drivers compared to novice drivers.  

There would appear to be an over-reliance on the use of the central, internal mirror, rather than the external side mirrors. 

 

For any PDI's reading, the subject of the different design of the mirrors and subsequent use is a subject that is introduced to pupils very early on in the learning pathway.  Instructors' various examples over time accrete into a deep understanding of the effective use of sideways observations.  Discard the 'bumper cars' methodology to driving whereby the learner driver becomes to rely on the crunching of wheels against kerb or beep from other drivers.  There is a need to instil in the mindset the importance of checking for safety before using the steering wheel to change position.

It does beg the question why does this have to be the case?  The authors of the above research do give some hints in their 'Discussion' which is worth a read.  I find that there is a general reluctance in novice drivers to turn the head away from the direction of forwards, even for a short while.  I am hinting that it is not so much of a conscious decision to ignore sideways observations but more of a reduction in confidence to not look where they are going, ALL the time.  I don't restrict this reluctance to only when the car is moving.  When stationary, but intending to move the vehicle sideways, there is too much emphasis on what is directly in front, and behind the vehicle at the detriment of all round observations.

Grab a highlighter, and flick through Roles 1-5 of the National Standard for driving cars and light vans.  Highlight wherever you see the words, "all-round visual checks', 'effective observations', 'systematic routine', 'blind spots'.
Wanting to remain in an emollient position, the DVSA I am pretty sure would like there to be a theme in expectations between our instruction, the pupils driving behaviours when training and on the driving test, and subsequently post-test.  In the interests of thoroughness, I would personally also include the Standards Check to that process.

* Geoffrey Underwood, David Crundall and Peter Chapman "Selective searching while driving: the role of experience in hazard detection and general surveillance" (2002)