Blind Spots and Convex Mirrors

[Danoff]

Can anyone tell me why cars don't automatically come with convex mirrors for eliminating blind spots? Why do we spend so much time and energy on blind spots - head checking, learning how to head check, repairing the car when you forget to head check, etc. - when blind spots can be completely eliminated.

$2 and your blind spot is no more. I feel like I'm living in the twilight zone. I carry around a supply of these mirrors and stick them to every car I own - and consider sticking them to every rental or loaner car I drive.

I know some of you guys are pretty serious about driving and driving safety. So if you have any thoughts on why these do not come already installed on your mirror, please share. 18 wheelers have fewer blind spots than the infinti G37 I recently drove because they use a fascinating technology that reflects light called a mirror.

Also, for anyone reading this, please feel free to defend why you feel the need to leave the blind spot on your car in exchange for $2 extra in your pocket.


(Searches did not reveal a thread on this subject)

 

[AlexGTV]

I enjoyed your pungent writing. So true ...and so cheap. I reckon many accidents would have been prevented with those little mirrors.

 

[Keef]

I've always wondered why the manufacturer does select a portion of the mirror - say, the outermost edge or the corner - to curve slightly, or cut at an angle just enough to be like a built-in convex mirror. The HD pickups and SUVs have separate convex mirrors to help when towing trailers. Some cars out there even have mirrors that motor downward so you can see the ground better while reversing.

But then I remembered that nobody adjusts their mirrors the same as the other person. In my car my mirrors are set up to minimize head-turn, and I've never been in a situation where an unintrusive head glance wouldn't allow me to see. My only problem area is backing out of parking spots when I'm surrounded because the Rex has giant foot-wide C-pillars that no mirror could ever rectify.

In my side mirrors I can't even see my own car all all - I've got them adjusted about an inch away. I know where my car is, and seeing other people is the point of mirrors. My mom and dad, however, have half of the mirror full of their own car. What the hell for? And then they go and complain that the Corolla has so many blind spots. No, you have blind spots.

As for the little convex mirrors, my dad has them on his truck. I've noticed myself using them a couple times, but for the most part they image in them is too small for me to pay attention to. I'd rather have the entire mirror convex just the tiniest bit. It would make for some awkward depth perception at first, but a person would get used to it. Then they could see their own car, the ground, and the other lane at the same time. Maybe even the air, because I've been in some cars who's drivers are apparently interested in that airplane chasing them down the highway.

 

[Danoff]

I like to keep the edge of my car in the mirror so that I know whether someone has knocked my mirror out of alignment in a parking lot or during a car wash (both of which happen periodically). It's a point of reference to give me confidence in the alignment.

I fully agree that the whole mirror should be slightly convex - that makes a great deal more sense than what we have now. But even if we pretend that such a utopia is impossible, at least sticking the little guys on works wonders. It does take a little while to adjust to using the small mirror, but once you've done it, driving in a car with blind spots is extremely uncomfortable.

And naturally people are going to adjust their mirrors differently for different purposes - but adding a convex portion of the mirror (or making the whole thing convex) certainly wouldn't prevent that. And even from a legal point of view it's no different than having a mirror in the first place. I don't see how a car company could be liable for you using your mirrors incorrectly any more with a convex mirror than with a flat one.

 

[Kylehnat]

I always had a little bit of car-butt in my mirror alignment until I bought the 370Z. That thing has a terrible driver-side blind spot, so I turned the mirror outward a bit so I can clearly see the lane next to me. It took some getting used to, but now I really like it. Still, I agree that auto manufacturers not doing something about this in 120 years is a bit baffling.

 

[homeforsummer]

My parents have owned a few cars where the outer edge of the mirror was already curved to eliminate blind-spots - the last 20% or so of the mirror was convex.

Can't remember which cars but I suspect they were Renaults since their last few cars since don't have them.

I can't see why more cars don't have them, but to be honest I habitually check over my shoulder anyway and I think even if you have a blind spot mirror it's safer to have a quick shoulder check as well. Having a tiny blind spot mirror like that illustrated seems like it'd be too small to usefully use. Would almost certainly require more than a glance to get any useful information from.

 

[daan]

My RX8, and my previous 406 Coupe, have had convex bits built in to their mirrors to eliminate blind spots.

Although I do still look over my shoulder when joining a motorway or changing lanes on one.

Surely, the one in your example pic is on the wrong side of the mirror. Should it not be on the inside?

 

[homeforsummer]

My RX8, and my previous 406 Coupe, have had convex bits built in to their mirrors to eliminate blind spots.

In that case it must have been my mum's old 406 that had a convex section to the mirror.

 

[Danoff]

Surely, the one in your example pic is on the wrong side of the mirror. Should it not be on the inside?

It depends on what you want to show up in the convex portion. The one in the picture is set up to show the blind spot in the convex mirror. If you put the convex mirror on the inside, you'd be showing the blind spot in the flat mirror and the rest in the convex. I suppose that's personal preference.

 

[Crash]

The passenger mirror on cars are already slightly convex, hence the statement "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear." Like it has been stated in this thread, the point is to help reduce blind spots.

If I understand correctly, many cars in Europe have convex mirrors on driver's side also, but US laws and regulations does not allow the driver's side mirror to be convex, hence we get flat mirrors instead.

 

[motortrend]

My uncle's edge has this from factory:

Even though I do not like how tose look on mirrors, they are quite functional, and look pretty clean if they are OEM

 

[astrosdude91]

Can't you just lean foward instead of headchecking? That's what I do.

 

[homeforsummer]

Can't you just lean foward instead of headchecking? That's what I do.

You could, but then how would you be sure you were still seeing everything in your blind spot? A quick look over your shoulder gives you a bit more reassurance.

 

[///M-Spec]

Car and Driver has the best directions on how I set up my mirrors to avoid blind spots.

[C/D] How to adjust your mirrors to eliminate blind spots

When I bought my first E36 M3, I noticed those M Aero mirrors that were oh-so dead sexy also afforded the viewing angle of a machine gun pillbox. Someone on the M3 mailing list suggested setting up the mirrors that way and I've been doing that for years now. Works great. I laugh when I see $1,000 blind spot detection options on new cars.


M

 

[Perfect Balance]

Car and Driver has the best directions on how I set up my mirrors to avoid blind spots.

[C/D] How to adjust your mirrors to eliminate blind spots

When I bought my first E36 M3, I noticed those M Aero mirrors that were oh-so dead sexy also afforded the viewing angle of a machine gun pillbox. Someone on the M3 mailing list suggested setting up the mirrors that way and I've been doing that for years now. Works great. I laugh when I see $1,000 blind spot detection options on new cars.


M

I don't like that method for the same reason Danoff stated. You don't ever really know if your mirror was bumped or something, throwing it out of alignment, because you don't have a reference point to go by. Every time get in a car with mirrors set up like that, I end up leaning forward to confirm that they are set up that way and not out of alignment, and then checking over my shoulder because I have a habit of doing so anyway.

End result being I spend more time looking around without really seeing any more.

 

[Danoff]

An interesting option would be to use the C/D method with the convex mirrors on the inside edge of the side mirror to maintain a reference point.

Not sure I want to do that, but it could be a good solution.

 

[niky]

You can set them up so that you see a very slight sliver of car, as I do.

Mazda mirrors are notoriously bad... when I first adjusted mine, I adjusted them out... out... out... click.click.click... that was it? Some new Nissans are just as bad.

With newer convex mirrors, the stick-ons aren't as necessary... but thanks for reminding me... I've been meaning to pick up a pair or two for my truck.

 

[sumbrownkid]

I always trust my own eyes than over the mirror. Even if I have the blind spot mirrors, I still turn my head to see my blind spots.

 

[mustangGT90210]

My mom's 2010 Ford Escape has these OEM blind spot mirrors. I've driven the thing long distances and I have to say, they are extremely handy and cover the blindspot totally and then some. I'm a firm believer in them. But also, my 1991 F150 has the big elephant ear swinging mirrors and when adjusted right it has no blind spots either, Car gets out of the mirror and into your peripherals at the same time

Escape mirror :

 

[Danoff]

I always trust my own eyes than over the mirror. Even if I have the blind spot mirrors, I still turn my head to see my blind spots.

That's nice, but it doesn't explain why we don't have adequate mirrors.

 

[Picc.Dc4]

I agree, but I took it a step further (because I'm mad cool like that) and bought one of these for my Integra

Its highly effective, and I now have 0 blindspots, just takes a few days to get used to it.

 

[AlexGTV]

Robo-vision eh?

 

[///M-Spec]

I don't like that method for the same reason Danoff stated. You don't ever really know if your mirror was bumped or something, throwing it out of alignment, because you don't have a reference point to go by. Every time get in a car with mirrors set up like that, I end up leaning forward to confirm that they are set up that way and not out of alignment, and then checking over my shoulder because I have a habit of doing so anyway.

End result being I spend more time looking around without really seeing any more.

Well, you do have a reference point, but it takes a little time to become accustomed to it. The angle of the street in the mirrors are your reference point instead of the side of your car.

Also, the set up is 'self-checking' on the road if you keep tabs on the cars around you. Here's how:

A car passes you on the left. That would be the 'red' car in the C/D article. As you track its progress, it should slowly disappear from your center inside mirror and appear in your driver's side mirror at the same time. If it does not, the mirror is out. It should then slowly move from your driver's side mirror into your peripheral vision by the B-pillar. If it does not, the mirror is out. Same rules apply for the passenger side.

If you find any mirror is out, you can quickly set them back up at the next light.

Adjust driver's side: While looking straight ahead (important!) lean your head towards your driver's side window until your ear just touches the glass. (Be sure you are not slouching when you do this) Adjust the mirror until you can just see the edge of your car.

Adjust passenger side: While looking straight ahead, lean your head to the exact middle of your car --ie, right over your center console. Again, be sure your head is not too far above or below it's normal height as you do this. Now, adjust the passenger side mirror until you can just see the edge of your car.

Done. Takes about 2-3 seconds if you have power mirrors. (I suppose if you have manual mirrors it's more trouble. But that's a problem no matter which way you adjust the mirrors)

The very first time you do this it will take a while to get it right. It will feel odd. As you grow accustomed, it becomes very natural. If you have a car with driver mirror position memory, it becomes a no-brainer. For me, it took about a week before it became second-nature.

Just to reiterate, this setup is an SAE recommended technique published back in '95. C/D simply wrote a recent article on it.


M

 

[motortrend]

I agree, but I took it a step further (because I'm mad cool like that) and bought one of these for my Integra

Its highly effective, and I now have 0 blindspots, just takes a few days to get used to it.

Those are probably really fuctional, but i HATE how they look. That's just me though, and probably if I tried it I would find it more usable than pretty and be OK with it

 

[niky]

I agree, but I took it a step further (because I'm mad cool like that) and bought one of these for my Integra

Its highly effective, and I now have 0 blindspots, just takes a few days to get used to it.

I.Want.One.

 

[Philly]

I might give that C/D method a try. I currently have my mirrors adjusted on the GTI so I just see the edge of the car in them. This was useful to me because I knew based on how much of the car was in the mirror how safe it was to merge in front of them. The full front end means I have a decent margin for getting in front of them. But that means that my blind spots are only covered by my head check. With the tiny windows, checking the passenger side isn't exactly totally confidence inspiring. It's possible to completely lose and not be able to see cars on the right side, especially at night.

 

[Eric.]

inb4 blind spots don't exist you head moves you can see everything.

 

[HeadsoupBob]

Picc.dc4, you must get some awesome sun/headlight glare in that mirror! I hope you can tilt it...

I use the method described in the C/D article and just use passing traffic or roadside objects to check alignment. I suppose you could put a tiny mirror on the inside to still give reference to a point on the car.

 

[Picc.Dc4]

Yeah the mirror tilts up/down aswell as slides on sliders up and down. Its great! The only flaw is that Ive hit my head off it a bunch of times getting into my car haha.

 

[porkchop87]

We don't have adequate mirrors on most cars because they look ugly as hell and only look suitable on an 18-wheeler or Mack truck. Haven't you noticed side mirrors becoming smaller and more stylized throughout the generations on most cars?

Is a head check really that hard? Maybe we'll burn a few more calories in this lazy society.