The Real Meaning Of “Objects In The Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear”
You must have seen a safety warning engraved on the mirror which reads “The objects in the mirror are closer than they appear”. Have you ever wondered what it means? It is labeled to warn the driver of the convex mirror’s effects on distance. It is intended to make you aware that the perceived distance between you and another car or object is less than you think. You should know why this happens before going for a ride.
In this article:
1. Why Does The Image In The Mirror Appear Smaller?
2. Why Is The Warning Label Important?
1 Why Does The Image In The Mirror Appear Smaller?
The mirrors used in vehicles are convex mirrors or diverging mirrors, which have the quality of showing the object smaller. The smaller objects look farther away than they are, which can be dangerous when shifting the lanes without properly minding the gap. If you are not aware of the distance between your vehicle and vehicles behind you, then you might end up colliding with a vehicle. So, it should be taken in mind that the vehicle behind you is closer to you than it looks in the side mirror of the car. The benefit of using a convex mirror is that it covers a larger area and shows wider angles than a plane mirror. By showing larger areas, it helps reduce the blind spots and provides the driver with a larger field of view. It also helps while you are parking the vehicle. To ensure minimal blind spots and maximum driver vision it is important to adjust the car mirror properly.
2 Why Is The Warning Label Important?
Knowing that the vehicle behind is closer than what appears in the mirror, allows you to make the right decision while taking turns or changing lanes. Changing the lanes without knowing the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle behind you can be dangerous. Because when you are changing the lanes you are not aware that the vehicle behind is closer than it is appearing in the mirror. Therefore, to remind you that the vehicle is closer this quote is engraved on the mirror, so that a collision can be avoided. This increases safety not only for yourself but others too.
