Why Convex Mirrors Are Used in Vehicles: Enhancing Safety and Visibility

Mirrors are vital for driving, as they increase awareness of your surroundings, reducing the risk of accidents and enhancing road safety. If you're wondering why convex mirrors are used in vehicles for rearview purposes, check out this article to understand the reasons behind their preference.

What is a convex mirror?

While concave mirrors curve inwards, convex mirrors curve outwards. Due to this, convex mirrors are usually used in rearview mirrors in motor vehicles as they can offer a much wider field of view as compared to flat mirrors. However, you should note that to offer a broader field of view, convex mirrors show cars twice as far as they are and compromise a bit on clarity.

Benefits of using a convex mirror

Let us go through the major benefits of using a convex mirror:

Wide field of view

Compared to flat mirrors, convex mirrors present a much wider field of view, which helps you get more information about your surroundings while driving. This comes in handy during reversing, switching lanes, merging onto a highway, etc.

Less blind spots

Due to its comprehensive viewing angle, convex mirrors help minimise blind spots, giving you information on areas that are otherwise outside of your usual field of vision.

Increased safety

Overall, the additional information about the road provided by convex mirrors helps improve your awareness while driving, which enhances safety.

Why Are Convex Mirrors Used in Cars?

Convex mirrors are easily available for all kinds of cars in India. They are usually mounted on the outside rear-view mirrors, which offers the most utility. One of the most practical uses of convex mirrors as rear-view mirrors in vehicles is that during highway journeys, they reflect vehicles adjacent to your car rather than showing one traffic lane that the flat mirror does.

Tips for using convex mirrors in vehicles

Here are some useful tips to help maximise the utility of convex mirrors as rearview mirrors in cars:

Right placement

It is vital to place the convex mirrors correctly so they offer a clear and wider view of your surrounding area.

Further adjustment

Consider your height, the dimensions of the vehicle and the seating position to correctly adjust the convex mirrors for the best viewing angle.

Combined usage

Both flat mirrors and convex mirrors offer certain benefits that can help improve your driving experience and safety on the road. This is why, the combined use of flat and convex mirrors as rear-view mirrors in cars is recommended.

Conclusion

Convex mirrors can help improve your driving experience by offering a greater visual perspective on the road. The more information you have, the better judgements you can make during driving.