Highlights

• Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) is now standard on most new electric vehicles and premium gasoline cars sold in Nepal.
• Proper rear‑view mirror adjustment gives a full view of the vehicle’s rear, eliminating hidden zones.
• Left‑side mirror should reveal only 10‑15 % of the car body, the rest must be road.
• Right‑side mirror must show the entire lane to support safe overtaking on Nepal’s left‑hand traffic.
• Incorrect mirror settings are responsible for the majority of overtaking collisions on Kathmandu’s curvy routes.
• Adjustments take less than a minute, yet they cut blind‑spot‑related crashes by up to 30 % according to local traffic studies.
• The technique works on any vehicle, from a compact EV to a heavy‑duty SUV.
• Implementing these steps today prepares drivers for upcoming mandatory BSM regulations.

Why Blind Spot Monitoring Matters on Nepalese Roads

In Kathmandu’s winding streets, a hidden vehicle can appear in the split second before you change lanes. The blind spot is the area that your side‑mirrors and rear‑view mirror cannot see. When you overtake, that invisible zone often hides a slower truck or a motorcycle weaving through traffic. That matters because a single mis‑read can trigger a chain‑reaction crash on a narrow hill road.

Blind‑spot‑monitoring systems, now common on most electric vehicles and high‑end gasoline models, use radar or cameras to illuminate those hidden zones. They flash a warning icon on the dashboard when a vehicle enters the danger area. The technology is a safety net, but it does not replace good mirror habits. In fact, the best BSM performance is achieved when the driver’s mirrors are already tuned to minimise blind spots. This changes things: a well‑set mirror turns a warning system from a novelty into a reliable co‑pilot.

Setting Your Rear View Mirror Right

The first step is to sit in the driver’s seat and look straight ahead. Adjust the rear‑view mirror (RVM) until you can see the entire rear window without any of the car’s roof or head‑rest cropping the view. If you notice a sliver of the interior ceiling, turn the mirror a fraction higher. The goal is a clean, unobstructed rectangle that captures every vehicle behind you.

Why this matters: a correctly set RVM lets you spot a slow‑moving bus that is about to merge into your lane. When the bus appears, the BSM light will also illuminate, giving you double confirmation. This simple adjustment takes only a few seconds but adds a layer of redundancy that can save lives.

Tip: Perform this check every time you switch vehicles or after a seat‑adjustment.

Left‑Side Mirror: The 10‑15 % Rule

In Nepal, traffic moves on the left side of the road, so the left‑hand mirror is your eyes on the lane you are leaving. Set the left‑side mirror so that only 10‑15 % of your own car’s body is visible. The rest of the mirror’s field should be the road ahead.

To achieve this, tilt the mirror outward until you see a thin slice of the car’s left fender. The road should dominate the view. This positioning warns you of vehicles approaching from the left‑hand lane before you start a lane change.

This matters because many collisions happen when a driver assumes the left lane is clear, only to discover a motorcycle already occupying that space. By limiting the car’s image in the mirror, you force yourself to look farther down the road, giving you precious extra seconds to react.

Right‑Side Mirror for Overtaking

Overtaking on Nepalese roads is done from the right‑hand side. Therefore, the right‑side mirror must show the entire lane you intend to move into. Unlike the left mirror, you want almost no part of the car body in the frame.

Adjust the mirror outward until the vehicle’s side is barely visible, if at all. You should see the full width of the lane, any parked vehicles, and the curb. When you check this mirror before overtaking, you confirm that the lane is truly free.

Why this changes things: a clear right‑hand view eliminates the guesswork that leads many drivers to cut off a slower truck or a bus. Combined with a functional BSM, the driver receives both visual confirmation and electronic alerts, dramatically reducing the risk of side‑impact crashes.

Putting It All Together on Nepalese Roads

Now that each mirror is correctly positioned, you have a three‑point visual net around your vehicle:

1. Rear‑view mirror – full rear window.
2. Left‑side mirror – 10‑15 % car body, rest road.
3. Right‑side mirror – almost no car body, full lane view.

Before any overtaking maneuver, perform the Inside‑Check‑Outside‑Check routine:

• Inside – glance at the RVM to see traffic directly behind.
• Outside – glance at the left and right mirrors to verify lane clearance.
• Blind‑Spot – glance over the shoulder for any vehicle that may have slipped past the mirrors.
• Proceed – only when all three zones are clear, engage the accelerator.

This disciplined approach works whether you drive a compact EV like the Tata Nexon EV or a rugged SUV such as the Mahindra XUV700. The underlying principle is the same: eliminate the hidden zone before you move.

Remember: The next generation of Nepal’s traffic regulations will require Blind Spot Monitoring on all new cars by 2026. Mastering manual mirror settings now puts you ahead of the curve and makes the transition to mandatory BSM seamless.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How often should I re‑adjust my mirrors? A: Re‑adjust whenever you change seats, add a passenger, or switch to a different vehicle. A quick check each week keeps the settings fresh.

Q: Do all electric vehicles in Nepal come with Blind Spot Monitoring? A: Most new EVs sold after 2023 include BSM as standard, but some entry‑level models may offer it only as an option.

Q: What is the ideal distance for the rear‑view mirror to cover the whole rear window? A: The mirror should be angled until the top of the rear windshield aligns with the top edge of the mirror’s frame, eliminating any interior ceiling view.

Q: Can I rely solely on BSM alerts instead of adjusting mirrors? A: No. BSM is a supplement, not a substitute. Proper mirror placement provides continuous visual feedback, while BSM alerts only when a vehicle enters a predefined zone.

Q: Will future regulations make BSM mandatory on all cars in Nepal? A: Yes. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport plans to enforce BSM on all new registrations starting 2026.

Q: Does the left‑side mirror setting differ for right‑hand traffic countries? A: In right‑hand traffic, the left‑side mirror is the overtaking side, so you would set it to show the full lane, opposite of the 10‑15 % rule used here.