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| Rear view mirrors are sometimes confused with ], a different type of mirror found on the left- and right-hand sides of most modern vehicles. Though these mirrors do face backwards, they are meant to show the driver the traffic to the left- and right-hand sides of the automobile. While side view mirrors usually carry the warning "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear," the rear view mirror does not carry this warning, even though it also has the same ] shape and the same potential danger that side view mirrors have. | Rear view mirrors are sometimes confused with ], a different type of mirror found on the left- and right-hand sides of most modern vehicles. Though these mirrors do face backwards, they are meant to show the driver the traffic to the left- and right-hand sides of the automobile. While side view mirrors usually carry the warning "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear," the rear view mirror does not carry this warning, even though it also has the same ] shape and the same potential danger that side view mirrors have. | ||
| ⚫ | == Augmentations and alternatives == | ||
| While the rear view mirror is usually affixed to the windshield, certain model cars have mounted the rearview mirror to the dashboard. When adjusting the mirror, it's advised to sit in the driver's seat in the same manner that you will be sitting while driving. Their utility may be diminished in cars with large ]s or tiny back windshields such as the ]. | While the rear view mirror is usually affixed to the windshield, certain model cars have mounted the rearview mirror to the dashboard. When adjusting the mirror, it's advised to sit in the driver's seat in the same manner that you will be sitting while driving. Their utility may be diminished in cars with large ]s or tiny back windshields such as the ]. | ||
| ⚫ | == Augmentations and alternatives == | ||
| Recently, rear view cameras have been built into many new model cars. This was partially in response to the rear view mirrors' inability to show the road directly behind the car, due to the rear deck, or trunk of the car obscuring as much as 10 or 15 feet of road behind a car. Many unfortunate incidents involving small children and ]s have been the result of such shortcomings of rear view mirrors. These camera systems are usually mounted to the bumper or lower parts of the car allowing for better rear visibility. In addition, rear facing ] arrays, and back up beepers help avoid accidents while reversing. | Recently, rear view cameras have been built into many new model cars. This was partially in response to the rear view mirrors' inability to show the road directly behind the car, due to the rear deck, or trunk of the car obscuring as much as 10 or 15 feet of road behind a car. Many unfortunate incidents involving small children and ]s have been the result of such shortcomings of rear view mirrors. These camera systems are usually mounted to the bumper or lower parts of the car allowing for better rear visibility. In addition, rear facing ] arrays, and back up beepers help avoid accidents while reversing. | ||
Revision as of 07:02, 22 March 2005
A rear view mirror is a functional type of mirror found in automobiles, designed to allow the driver to see the area behind the vehicle through the back window.
Rear view mirrors are sometimes confused with side view mirrors, a different type of mirror found on the left- and right-hand sides of most modern vehicles. Though these mirrors do face backwards, they are meant to show the driver the traffic to the left- and right-hand sides of the automobile. While side view mirrors usually carry the warning "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear," the rear view mirror does not carry this warning, even though it also has the same convex shape and the same potential danger that side view mirrors have.
While the rear view mirror is usually affixed to the windshield, certain model cars have mounted the rearview mirror to the dashboard. When adjusting the mirror, it's advised to sit in the driver's seat in the same manner that you will be sitting while driving. Their utility may be diminished in cars with large spoilers or tiny back windshields such as the Lamborghini Diablo.
Augmentations and alternatives
Recently, rear view cameras have been built into many new model cars. This was partially in response to the rear view mirrors' inability to show the road directly behind the car, due to the rear deck, or trunk of the car obscuring as much as 10 or 15 feet of road behind a car. Many unfortunate incidents involving small children and SUVs have been the result of such shortcomings of rear view mirrors. These camera systems are usually mounted to the bumper or lower parts of the car allowing for better rear visibility. In addition, rear facing radar arrays, and back up beepers help avoid accidents while reversing.
Because other vehicles' headlights may be too bright, poorly aimed, or left on the high beam setting at inappropriate times, it can be advantageous to have a dimmer setting on your rear view mirror. Some rear view mirrors have auto dimming features built in while others are adjustable so that a lower light level setting may be used. Because of this it is advisable to set the darker setting to be aimed lower than the lighter setting. This is mostly because at night when you readjust the mirror to use the darker setting the lighter angles will be pointed to the lower contrast roof of the vehicle instead of the higher contrast areas such as the backs of the seats.
In art
In modern art, particularly music and poetry, the rear view mirror has become a common metaphor for reflecting upon the past, whether upon one's own memories or a time even more distant. For example, Jane Sequoya's "Scene Through the Rear-View Mirror" expresses a woman's regret for a lost love partly by comparison with the lost Native American people of the prairies .
In popular music, artists ranging from Alicia Keys to Meat Loaf to the Starland Vocal Band have written songs with "Rear View Mirror" in the title. The metaphor is particularly prominent in country music, where it's featured in hits such as JoDee Messina's "Bye Bye", Chely Wright's "Shut Up and Drive", Doug Supernaw's "She Never Looks Back", and Julie Robert's "Break Down Here".