| all too easy to base an important decision, like | | | | Would you see a cyclist stopped next to you at |
| purchasing a new car, on price and looks alone but | | | | traffic lights? Can you see out of the back |
| have you ever really considered what your | | | | window enough to anticipate changing lanes on a |
| chosen vehicle is like to live with? Any car dealer | | | | motorway? You will soon realise that visibility is of |
| will offer you a test drive if you seem genuinely | | | | paramount importance, especially in a time when |
| interested in purchasing a car from them, yet | | | | safety regulations are rendering cars less gifted in |
| twenty minutes driving around an old industrial | | | | the window department. |
| estate isn’t going to really give you a | | | | Driving a car in which visibility is not great can feel |
| decent idea as to whether the car suits you as a | | | | very claustrophobic and unsafe. Not being able to |
| driver. One problem often encountered after the | | | | see around you when driving is a very |
| deal has been done is limited visibility that you | | | | uncomfortable experience and not one that |
| wouldn’t necessarily notice when taking a | | | | anyone should have after paying a lot of money |
| test drive. Using your new car out on the roads, | | | | for a vehicle that they have fallen in love with. |
| especially around junctions and roundabouts where | | | | Car dealers everywhere will be very quick to tell |
| visibility is of utmost importance, can make you | | | | you all the big benefits of your chosen car but |
| realise that perhaps the car you have chosen | | | | cannot tell you how driving the vehicle will feel like |
| may not be right for you after all. | | | | for you, so make sure that you demand a |
| When browsing the local car dealers for your ideal | | | | comprehensive test drive and really research the |
| car try to keep in mind how you are going to be | | | | car you are about to buy. |
| able to see around you as you drive. Look for | | | | Try parking the car when test driving it as this will |
| decent sized mirrors, un-obscured back windows | | | | give you a good idea as to how well the mirrors |
| and pillars that won’t block too much of | | | | allow you to see outside. The pillars are always |
| your view. Sit in the driver’s seat and | | | | going to restrict vision but some will do this more |
| adjust the mirrors and seating until you are in | | | | than others. Parallel park, reverse in to a bay and |
| your usual driving position. Just sitting down and | | | | try to park between two cars as these exercises |
| trying to work out what you can see is not going | | | | will help you to see whether your vehicle is going |
| to give you a fair idea of visibility unless you are | | | | to be safe for you. Car dealers should be willing to |
| in your ideal position for driving the car. Once you | | | | let you do these manoeuvres if you ask nicely, |
| have familiarised yourself with your surroundings | | | | remember- they’re trying to make a sale |
| try to imagine scenarios that would require you to | | | | so negotiate your terms. You are going to have |
| use mirrors, check your blind spot and reverse. | | | | to live with it, after all. |