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Well, rear-view mirrors came in to help drivers go faster. That’s right; speed was the very purpose of installing this mirror in a car! Back in 1911, racer Ray Harroun was the first person who got this idea of having a rear-view mirror. He saw something similar in a horse cart and figured that this will be really helpful in high-speed driving. Until now, he used to have a co-driver with him who would tell him if it was safe to change lanes. With this mirror, he not only took control himself, but he also took off a hundred and sixty pounds from his car!
The rear-view mirror is a device that serves to increase the level of safety of a car, offering greater visibility to the rear and sides of the vehicle. In Italy the obligation of the external rearview mirror was introduced on January 1, 1977.
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Your car’s rear-view mirror serves a multitude of purposes that help keep you safe as a driver. The rear-view mirror promotes an alert driving experience by allowing you to see behind your vehicle without turning your head. By checking the rear-view mirror, you can monitor traffic and prepare for any potential dangers. It’s also helpful with parking as it gives a clear line of sight to the sides and rear of the vehicle. The rear-view mirror is a great asset when backing into a parking space, parallel parking, and exiting a parking space. All mirrors serve an essential function, and while it may seem like common sense, it’s best to educate yourself on how to use the mirrors before driving effectively. Before you begin a trip, check all of your mirrors, and adjust them accordingly. Most people attempt to adjust their rear-view mirror or their side mirrors while driving; this can prove to be distracting and dangerous. Take time to understand your specific vehicle’s best mirror positioning in reference to how you’re sitting. Once your mirrors are adjusted, it’s essential to make sure they’re clean. Dirty mirrors can limit visibility and response time. Don’t hesitate to run your car through a quick drive-thru car wash before starting your commute. The rear-view mirror’s role is to ensure your safety on the road and the safety of other drivers as well. While driving, it’s important to quickly check all mirrors before making any sudden stops, switching lanes, turning, or accelerating. Most driving instructors suggest checking your mirrors every five to eight seconds with a glance. A glance does not mean studying the mirrors, but more along the lines of a quick check. It’s important not to stare off into your rear-view mirror as you can miss hazards in front of you. Checking your mirrors frequently gives you an adequate mental map of what’s happening on the road. From moments if there’s a vehicle about to hit you from the rear or an item falling off of a truck, mirror checking keeps you prepared. The first step when driving is always to learn the laws of the road and prepare your vehicle in advance. When used with authority, a well-adjusted rear-view mirror makes for a safer driving experience. While your safe driving isn’t always enough to prevent an accident, staying prepared and aware can potentially minimize the damage or injuries. Your rear-view mirror is a tool, and its helpfulness has been proven effective for decades. All mirrors should be clean and checked frequently. If you’re ever in doubt with their placement or functionality, consult a professional automotive technician for advice.
A prismatic rear-view mirror—sometimes called a “day/night mirror”—can be tilted to reduce the brightness and glare of lights, mostly for high-beam headlights of vehicles behind which would otherwise be reflected directly into the driver’s eyes at night. This type of mirror is made of a piece of glass that is wedge-shaped in cross-section—its front and rear surfaces are not parallel. On manual tilt versions, a tab is used to adjust the mirror between “day” and “night” positions. In the day view position, the front surface is tilted and the reflective back side gives a strong reflection. When the mirror is moved to the night view position, its reflecting rear surface is tilted out of line with the driver’s view. This view is actually a reflection of the low-reflection front surface; only a much-reduced amount of light is reflected in the driver’s eyes. “Manual tilt” day/night mirrors first began appearing in the 1930s and became standard equipment on most passenger cars and trucks by the early 1970s.
In the 1940s, American inventor Jacob Rabinow developed a light-sensitive automatic mechanism for the wedge-type day/night mirror. Several Chrysler Corporation cars offered these automatic mirrors as optional equipment as early as 1959, but few customers ordered them for their cars and the item was soon withdrawn from the option lists. Several automakers began offering rear-view mirrors with automatic dimming again in 1983 and it was in the late 1980s that they began to catch on in popularity. Current systems usually use photosensors mounted in the rear-view mirror to detect light and dim the mirror by means of electrochromism. This electrochromic feature has also been incorporated into side-view mirrors allowing them to dim and reduce glare as well.