Convex mirrors on cars
The design rules that apply for vehicles sold in Australia are always being updated and the design rules for mirrors on motor vehicles were changed a while ago to adopt the European rules, which allow a choice of either flat or convex mirrors on both sides of the vehicle.
Convex mirrors are curved mirrors that give a “compressed” view rather than a flat view. As a result, they cover a wider field of view and objects in the mirror appear smaller. This minimises blind spots but also creates the illusion that things in the mirror are further away.
These mirrors can take a little bit of getting used to, especially for those used to flat mirrors – but it is just a matter of becoming familiar with the characteristics of a convex mirror.
Convex mirrors have been fitted to the passenger side of vehicles in Australia for many years, sometimes accompanied by the warning “Objects in mirror may be closer than they appear”, with no evidence that they cause a safety problem. These types of mirrors have also been in use overseas for many years and we are not aware of any reports of increased crash risk due to their use.
The RTA Road Users’ Handbook states that “before you change lanes, give your signal in plenty of time, check your mirrors and look over your shoulder for other vehicles”. The “head check” is necessary to ensure it is safe to change lanes – drivers should not depend on their mirrors alone.
Convex mirrors are becoming more common on new cars and it is likely they will soon be standard across the market. So, when purchasing a new or used vehicle, be sure to read the vehicle owner’s handbook to become familiar with the operating aspects of the vehicle and the equipment fitted.
Have you driven a vehicle with convex mirrors on both sides? Do you find convex mirrors safer or more dangerous?
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November 25th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Convex mirrors give a wider view and they do take getting used to. It is no different to when they were introduced on the left hand mirror, everyone kicked up a fuss, but now they are used to them, there is no problem, same will go for the right hand mirror, so stop whinging and get used to it.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Being one that constantly uses mirrors and likes to be very aware of my surroundings, I find the convex mirrors problematic. One should be able to obtain true distances when using mirrors so as to ensure the correct decision is made when negotiating a move. I have cut too many drivers off be relying on the incorrect reading I receive from these mirrors.
Also I obtain a different perspective from my rear vision mirror which can be disconcerting when needing to negotiate my position in heavy traffic.
I hate them.
November 26th, 2009 at 9:15 am
I recently hired a car which used a convex drivers side mirror – I found it quite disconcerting, my brain wasn’t expecting the view I saw and my eyes had to adjust their focus to the different view. I’m sure I would get used to it if I was able to use the car regularly though.
I didn’t really have an opportunity to consider whether the view was better from the convex mirror. Next time I hire a similar car, I’ll pay more attention to the mirrors.
November 28th, 2009 at 1:35 am
Living in the UK i have only ever used convex mirrors- so to me they’re normal. However i can imagine it would be strange to change from flat as the distance objects appear to be from you in the mirror varies greatly from the reality.
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:08 am
I was test driving a new car on the weekend & found myself in a merge lane, I put on the blinker, checked my mirror – yes there is a ute coming up – then glanced over my shoulder, “Holy Sh…” the ute towing a boat trailer was right in the usual cars blind spot. From the mirror it looked like he was behind the boot but he was level with the back seat. I was running out of room & he would not back off so I had to break to a crawl & wait for him to pass. I took the car back to the dealer & told him what happened. “oh yeh, objects in the rear view mirrow appear closer then they are” – thanks for the heads up first “Buddy” – I did not buy the car
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:24 am
What’s cracking. Yeah something needs to be done to these mirrors. They are good in theory but in practice they can be deceiving. I still prefer to look over my shoulders. Happy days…
December 3rd, 2009 at 5:25 pm
I’ve had a mondeo for about 2 years now which goes one step further, 60% of the mirror is flat, with the outer edge (seperated by a visibile line) being convex. I find theyre the best mirrors i have ever had in a motor vehicle as it gives you correct aspects for most angles, and yet i can see 90% of the blindspot in the convex section.
It frustrates me driving cars without this now
December 4th, 2009 at 7:28 am
I have done a lot of thinking on this, and my problem is three-fold.
1. If side mirrors are placed so that they show the lane next to you, and not just repeat the view in the rear-vision mirror, then the blind spot problem is eliminated.
2. I believe that turning the head around is dangerous – why remove the field of vision away from the front, when you really don’t need to!
3. I agree with the thought that THERE SHOULD BE NO DISTORTION in any mirror, as it defeats the purpose. As a completely cynical thought, why not design a mirror so convex that it shows a full 360degress, then you’ll see everything around you and all traffic will be a thousand miles away!!
December 5th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Seven months ago, I traded in my old Ford Corsair (aka Nissan Pintara with Ford badges) which had flat side mirrors, on a Hyundai Getz which has convex mirrors on both sides. It took a lot of mental adjustment to compensate for the fact that a vehicle almost level with mine appears to be quite a long way back. I’m still extra cautious about changing lanes if I can see anything in either mirror.
In the Ford I almost never looked at the passenger side mirror and turned my head to check that it was clear to move to the left (a habit learned from many years of motorcycling).
Unfortunately the Getz has much worse blind spots and I’ve found that it’s essential to look at the passenger side mirror before thinking of moving into the left lane. The problem is similar though not quite as bad with the right-hand mirror. So I’ve become dependent on looking at the side mirrors to fill in the blind spots, but I won’t change lanes unless I can easily see the front of vehicles behind me in the other lane, in the main rear vision mirror. And unlike most drivers, I signal what I’m going to do in plenty of time before I do it.
December 6th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
i just can’t work out what you lot are whinging about. If you’re not clever enough to work out where the other cars are in your convex mirrors, just look over your shoulders like you used to have to do when you had flat mirrors, dohh!!!
December 6th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
My husband’s work car is convex mirrored, he drives it daily even so after months of getting use to it, it still caused him to have an accident by missjudging the distance of the car in the next lane. I can’t get use to them at all they are dangerous bring back the “Normal” mirrors.
December 8th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
I don’t consider these mirrors aid a safer view of the rear, their wide angle
view encourages lazy drivers to not do a head check and they give a false view of the gap to the vehicle behind in the adjacent lane when you are merging. When I took delivery of my new car some months ago I immediately took it to a glazier who cut and silicon-glued plain glass mirrors over the convex glass. He said he has a large collection of templates for all makes of cars and does a roaring trade.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
People. Stop complaining. You don’t have any problems with the left hand convex mirror, do you? So as it is stated, it will take time to adjust. maybe other aspects of your driving should be looked at also. As Bruce said, “look over your shoulder” and do a head check….Don’t be so lazy!!!!
December 10th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Mars, what you state is not necessarily correct. In my new vehicle, like many others, you will find that the two side mirrors are convex while the centre rearvision mirror is plain glass.
So for a driver who uses his mirrors extensively and at all times likes to be aware of where he is situated in comparison to other vehicles, he will be receiving different readings when using the side mirrors and the centre mirror. This in essence is the problem. If all 3 mirrors were giving the same distance reading then as you state, drivers could get use to them.
I two had my side mirrors replaced on my late model vehicle with plain glass.
December 16th, 2009 at 9:04 am
I just bought a brand new Toyota corolla and find the covex side mirrors very dangerous. It does not give you a true position of cars on either side on the road. Turning Rt or Left is extremely dangerous. I met with an accident on the freeway because I did not have the real position of the car on the fast lane.Luckily it was a minor damage to both cars but it could have cost my life.
Those who are comfortable with these mirrors should be allowed to use them and those who do not trust their lives with these side mirrors should be allowed to change them to normal side mirrors.There should be market for supplying change to mirrors.
December 20th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Ray, I would like to change the right hand rear vision mirror on my new Honda Civic. Did you use a glazier in Sydney? If so who & where.
Many thanks
December 27th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Being very qualified, B-Double Raod Train Licence, Army Drivers Licences(Numerous Bike & Trucks), NSW Police High Speed Cars, Trucks & Buses & Competition Racing Car Licence. I beleive the avaerage car driver is not experienced and intelligent enough to use convex mirrors. They cannot even adjust there mirrors properly , let alone use them. Most lane changing accidents and near accident occur because someone gets cut off , due to not enough room to change lanes, brought about by convex mirros. Convex mirrors are also useless for reversing with trailers/caravans and that is why large trucks only have them as an auxillary/spotting mirror for traffic in their blind spots. They should not be allowed on cars as they are not necessary if you adjust your standard mirror properly.
January 5th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Nos from Maroubra, If you feel they are so dangerous, show some proof! European’s have been using convex mirrors for donkey’s years and there is no evidence of them being dangerous. I await your comment…
January 13th, 2010 at 9:10 am
Mars,
I dont believe I wrote that they are so dangerous as you state. I did write that they are problematic from a personal perspective. I like to receive a true indication of actual distance not one that distorts the image.
I couldn’t care less if they use convex mirrors in the EU – it doesn’t mean that what is practiced over there is ideal. Look they even drive on the wrong side of the road.
January 18th, 2010 at 12:06 am
I believe the average car driver is not experienced and intelligent enough to use convex mirrors, do not trust your lives with these side mirrors.
January 19th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Hullo Ann,
any glazier anywhere can do it, the glass they use is plain mirror glass.
You might have to give the glazier a template you cut yourself with some stiffish paper placed over the existing mirror, outline it with a pen, cut with scissors and test the shape to see if it fits neatly.
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:23 pm
I think these are a disaster and make it difficult to judge the distance. At night and in the rain at night they are even more difficult to use. They may be OK for people who do not wear glasses. I have a 3 year old car which has these and I am still not comfortable. The only way is to double check by looking over the shoulder or in the internal mirror. Why be distracted by take your eyes off the road in front to look over your shoulder? Why force a double check?
Looking in mirrors should be VERY simple. You should not have to recompute the distance.
BTW, I asked about changing the glass at the beginning and was told it was not allowed.
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:52 pm
I have to agree 100% with Shaun McGowan about the general level of intelligence of most car drivers not to be trusted with convex mirrors. There definately should be warning for those renting vehicles. It only takes once quick incidence to result in tragedy.
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Convex mirrors are a huge problem for the inexperienced driver who believe that what they see in the mirror is reality! How often has a car cut in front in lanes creating a near miss situation or heavy braking all because they thought the car in the other lane was further away!
It is an absolute rarity to actually see some look over their shoulder! P platers especially don’t seem to have shoulders. This also seems to be the case for older drivers with arthritis or stiff necks!!
February 4th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Convex mirrors can be a little strange at first when you first use them, but given time you’ll find you can’t go without them. That’s why so many cars are now fitted with them, the benefits of them are obvious.
Regards,
Melissa
February 5th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
I think these convex mirrors distort the image you are viewing so much so, it makes my head spin. I was test-driving a new vehicle yesterday which was fitted with these ridiculous mirrors and they upset me so much I terminated my test drive. I have been driving for 20 plus years and have never been involved in an accident, so I don’t think my intelligence and ability to drive properly come into question. I think it is simply that I felt terribly uncomfortable relying on these mirrors in order to determine safety in an expensive new car I have not yet purchased!! It almost felt like I was at the Ekka looking into one of those other “silly” mirrors that give out distorted imagery. I have since decided I will not be purchasing this vehicle or any other vehicle that any manufacturers deem necessary to be fitted with this type of circus mirror. No wonder there are so many accidents on the road that are caused by simple miscalculation. If this keeps up, there will be many more to come. I don’t want to be one of the victims. Do you?
February 5th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
For those who think convex mirrors are the go….Just because you can use a convex mirror safely, doesn’t mean the person in the lane next to you can. Half the time is isn’t your own driving you need to be concerned with, it’s the other noong noongs on the road!! When it comes to convex mirrors on cars, I could well be one of the noong noongs!!
February 11th, 2010 at 1:28 am
My new Honda Civic has what you call convex mirrors. All I know is that my other car stated that “things may appear further that they are” on the left side, and the right hand side has nothing stated on the mirror, meaning normal view, so this is what I was used to.
I didn’t even notice that my new Honda was any different, (as it doesn’t say that the view is different), until I reversed into a tree which looked like it was quite some distance away. I also refuse to parallel park in it at all.
Does anyone know if it is law, that you should at least be advised when the view is different??????
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:38 pm
They are extremely hard to judge distance, serve no practical function at all and should be banned. A backwards step in raod safety.
March 10th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Convex mirrors are extremely good on passenger side. I find that it eliminates the blindspot. After I identify the closest vechile in the mirror, I look at rear view mirror to check the distance of the same vechile before changing the lane and it works really well.
I have an older car with flat mirror on the passenger side and I find it hardly of any use since the coverage is very little.
All thumbs up for Convex mirrors.
Thanks
March 11th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
why cannot the manufacturers give you a choice so you can pick plain or convex mirror. I have used both and find that it takes me a little while to get used to a convex mirror – about 15 minutes. give people the choice then the problem disappears.
a greater safety concern to me is that we cannot have mirrors on the passenger side on the front wing of the car. my early cars were sports cars that had them on the wings both left and right side. it means you don’t have to turn your head much to look at the mirrors to see what is behind you and therefore less risk of something happening in front of you when you are looking to the side. as for these people who odvocate looking over your shoulder while driving at [any] speed – don’t you realise how dangerous that is? looking over your shoulder should be for starting out from a parking spot only.
March 11th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Our MA Mondeo has the best of both worlds as it combines both flat and convex, but the real issue is that modern cars have woefull rear vision so we need to rely on the mirrors. The Mondeo has poor rear vision so you need a decent mirror, thank heavens they are OK.
I drove a few other cars being making our choice, and it seems that there is also a great variation in the amount of curvatore in each mirror depending on the model/ manufacturer. One Japanese Model made my wife feel nauseous and the Dealer actually agreed that they do with some people.
Not at all consistent and not very safety oriented.
Check Google there is a supplier in Sydney of replacment mirrors that I understand is on the books of more than one Dealership.
March 11th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Motorcycles have had convex mirrors for years (well, most of them, anyway!). They give a much wider field of view, but nothing- I’ll say that again- NOTHING- takes the place of a “headcheck!”. The headcheck has been part of motorcycle training since I first become an instructor in 1991, and was always strictly enforced on the training range. Pity car drivers were not subject to a similar off road training system. Might nake the roads safer for us motorcyclists, too.
March 11th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
I cannot believe the amount of people on here that don’t look over their shoulder before changing lanes. This is not a new thing. I have held my licence for about 15 years now, and was taught this from day 1 – Mirror, Indicator, Shoulder (MIS). In those 15 years of driving I have never had an accident, or near miss from taking my eyes off the road for about a second to look over my shoulder. I have, however noticed many vehicles in my blindspot, thus avoiding an accident or cutting them off. Maybe this explains why I am cut off by so many people on the road. Have some situational awareness people!
March 12th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Regarding the comments re not taking your eyes off the road for anything- scanning, or moving your eyes, is a preferred safe driving method. This includes- both sides of the road well ahead; instruments (all of them!); mirrors; and looking as far ahead as possible. Of course, this can not be done safely if you are using your phone, eating or fighting with the kids in the back seat.
I would like to see positive work done to target the REAL causes of accidents- not just a catch cry (eg. speed kills) that circumvents the truth and is used to justify a new tax.
By the way- why are counrty drivers being slugged a new tax on our rego to fix the city ratrace when our own roads are in such a mess???
March 12th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Just bought a “new” car with convex mirrors & find they give an unreal distance perspective. After only driving for 2 days with these I am considering changing them to regular mirrors. I am doing driver training with my 17yr old, (have done 60+ hours in the old car) who said that he couldn’t work out how far cars were from us. His comment is, “I will use the rear vision and turn my head to get better judgement, I don’t want to have an accident”.
March 12th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I cannot believe the number of drivers who do NOT do the “headcheck” required by LAW.
I am approaching 70 and have no trouble obeying this LAW. When I find I am unable to do the headcheck I will consider that I am no longer fit to hold a licence and hand it in.
I am also amazed by the number of people who rely on their mirrors to judge distances. This is folly in the extreme.
Rear view mirrors are there so that drivers can have an idea of what is happening around them. In this regard I find the mildly convex mirrors far preferable to the old fashioned flat mirrors which left most of “what was around you” in a blind spot.
March 18th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
I done it, I have put unleaded petrol into my diesel Range Rover. It is a bad thing for sure and I did not think it could possible happen to me. I have done 50000 ks in last 8 months so I am refuelling regularly, got distracted after a long day and picked up the wrong nossel (the one beside the diesel). Vehicle under repair not sure what damage has been done , vehicle was not driven but ignition turned on. Thought I was the only special one but two other vehicles in on the same day same problem. With the growing number of diesel arriving on our roads it is only going to get worse.
April 11th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Convex mirror are really helpful to get refelction from larger distance. But, while driving heavy vehicles it is necessary to adjust truck convex mirror to avoid blind spot.
May 15th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
New Ford Fiesta WS. Bloody ridiculous convex mirror. In America Ford have an inset in the drivers mirror which shows the true distance. Now that makes sense. Anyone found a magnifying type plastic layer that will easily attach to all or a portion of the drivers mirror and correct this dangerous situation. That may be an easy fix?
June 30th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Convex side mirriors are the most loopy idea to come out of the motoring industry, ever. They serve no purpose whatsoever, unless you call increasing hazards a purpose. What? But…but…they tell you if there’s a car behind and to the side of you, don’t they? Well for heaven’s sake – there’s ALWAYS a car behind and to the side of you! What you need to know is how close it is! The convex mirror tells you the other car is way back there, way out of range, whereas in reality its right on your bumper. I defy anyone to accurately estimate distances with a convex mirror. It simply cannot be done, because our brains haven’t evolved that way.
What an idiotic idea! What’s next? Spherical lens windscreens for a fish-eye view of the road ahead?
July 29th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Convex side mirrors are nightmare when backing a large boat you need to know the correst distance.Also dangerour at 100k in heavy traffic when its dark and raining taking your eyes off the road to look over shoulder is not the safest thing to do.
August 18th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
this is for Dirk, somewhere up in the forum. Der! Did you think a car dealer can tell you about every thing before your holliness takes it out on a drive? And a message for all of you out there whinging about mirrors and stuff! A good driver doesn’t even need a side view mirror on the near side and pretty much not even the off side one if you know how to use your main one and look over your shoulder