Many motorists cannot see what’s next to them with standard mirrors, especially when turning around a corner or switching lanes. This is where blind spot mirrors come into play, giving a better and increased field of view to the drivers. Blind spot mirrors are an aftermarket accessory which offers a simple solution to avoid any blind spots. Because as we are aware, missing a blind spot can lead to a potential collision.
Here we will discuss how blind spot mirrors work and where to put blind spot mirrors.
What is a Blind Spot?
A blind spot is an area which is not directly visible to the driver. This area cannot be seen through the windscreen or by using side-view or rear-view mirrors as they are hidden by your car body. The car blind spots can pose dangers of collisions as they are not visible in the driver’s line of sight through the standard side or rearview mirrors.
How Does a Blind Spot Mirror Work?
Blind spot mirrors are usually convex mirrors which are mounted on a car’s exterior to improve the driver’s visibility on the sides and back of a car. Compared to standard side view mirrors, the blind spot mirror’s curved surface makes it possible to reflect things from a broader variety of angles.
A blind spot mirror is smaller in size than the standard side or rearview car mirrors. Although blind spot mirrors can be mounted on the front or back windows, these mirrors are typically mounted on the side-view mirrors.
Where to Put Blind Spot Mirrors?
A blind spot mirror should be placed to provide a view of the blind spots on the right and left of the driver’s seat. But before adjusting the blind spot mirror, check that your wing mirrors are adjusted properly such that you shouldn’t be able to see your car’s side. This will allow you to observe what the standard mirror overlooks.
The ideal location for blind spot mirrors is at the top of the side mirrors, tilted inwards to allow visibility of the blind spots. However, this does not apply to every vehicle. Therefore, you must experiment with the blind spot mirror placement for optimal coverage of blind spots.
Types of Blind Spot Mirrors
Blind spot mirrors come in a wide variety of designs, but they all function similarly. The driver can mount the blind spot mirror by sticking, clipping or some other hardware. Let’s take a look at the different types of blind spot mirrors.
Stick-on blind spot mirror
The stick-on blind spot mirrors are the most budget-friendly and frequently used. To put up a stick-on blind spot mirror, remove the sticky tape from the back and paste them on the mirror by applying some pressure. The price of stick-on blind spot mirrors starts from as low as AED 7.
Clip-on blind spot mirror
Stick-on and clip-on blind spot mirrors are quite similar. But clip-on mirrors attach to your side-view mirror instead of sticking to them. They are a little more challenging to install as a result, but they are also less prone to come off. The price of clip-on blind spot mirrors starts from as low as AED 25.
Rear-view mirror blind spot mirror
As the name suggests, rear-view blind spot mirrors are installed on the rear-view mirror for a unique angle. They are the only types of blind spot mirrors which are mounted inside a car’s cabin. Although they are fairly simple to install, some drivers may find them to be a little distracting. The price of rearview blind spot mirrors starts from as low as AED 25.
Window-mounted blind spot mirror
Such blind spot mirrors are mounted on the car’s exterior mirror with suction cups rather than sticking or mounting. Window-mounted blind spot mirrors are a bit more expensive than other types, but they give your vehicle the look of a truck’s exterior mirrors. The price of window-mounted blind spot mirrors starts from AED 50 and above.
Factors to Consider When Mounting Blind Spot Mirrors
Once you have decided to use a blind spot mirror for your help, it is essential to decide where to put one for your convenience. The query of where to put a blind spot mirror is impacted by many factors, some of which are detailed below.
The size of the mirror
The visibility of a blind spot is affected by the size of the blind spot mirror. The larger a blind spot mirror, the greater view of a blind spot will be visible, and vice versa.
The shape of the mirror
The shape of blind spot mirrors also plays a major role in the visibility of a blind spot. While flat mirrors only reveal a tiny portion of the blind zone, convex mirrors will provide a wider perspective.
Also, blind spot mirrors come in three shapes; oval, round, and teardrop. The widest field of view is offered by oval mirrors; however, they can also distort the image. With a good field of view and less distortion than oval or circular mirrors, teardrop mirrors are a suitable solution. Whereas round mirrors have the narrowest field of view, they provide the clearest image.
The angle of the mirror
Similar to the shape of the blind spot mirrors, its angle also determines how much area of the blind spot will be visible to the driver. A better view will be provided by blind spot mirrors inclined towards the driver. Whereas, mirrors that are tilted away from the driver will only partially reveal the blind area. Moreover, you will first have to adjust the car mirrors correctly before adjusting the blind spot mirrors.
Position of the Mirror
A blind spot mirror positioned on side-view mirrors offers a greater view of blind spots than those mounted on the front or rear windows. Moreover, it is better to install blind spot mirrors on both sides of a car rather than placing them on one side only.
That is all about where to put blind spot mirrors and the factors affecting their placement. While blind spot mirrors remain a cheap solution to avoid blind spots in older vehicles, many modern cars are now equipped with blind spot monitoring systems. A blind spot monitoring or detection system eliminates the risk of collision due to blind spots by detecting and alerting the driver timely of nearby objects.
That said, if you wish to switch to a car with modern car safety features, you can check out these used cars for sale in the UAE.
For more information on car parts and accessories, stay tuned to the UAE’s leading auto blog.
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