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There are many parts on a vehicle but one part that is often overlooked is its mirrors, we tend to take them for granted and not realize how important it is for the safety of ourselves as well as others on the road. Whether you are merging lanes, reversing, or simply driving in traffic, mirrors provide essential visibility that helps avoid accidents. While mirrors can help you drive safer, it is also critical to remember that having car insurance in Dubai protects you financially in case of an accident. In the UAE, where traffic can be quite intense, understanding the different types of car mirrors and their functions can significantly improve driving safety. 

In this post, we will venture into various types of car mirrors, their features, and how they can help you to be a better driver.

Rear-view mirror

This is the one that is often mounted on the windshield of your car and its primary function is to give you as the driver a clear view of the road behind the vehicle. Most rear-view mirrors are adjustable to suit the driver’s height and seating position.

Functions and Features

• Day/Night Adjustment: 

Rearview mirrors come with a variety of functions as some even have a day/night function that lessens the glare from oncoming headlights when driving at night.

• Anti-glare Coating: 

You can take it a step further with mirrors that have an anti-glare coating to further reduce the brightness of lights from behind, improving visibility.

• Automatic Dimming: 

Some cars also have rear-view mirrors that automatically dim the mirror when the sensors detect bright light, which helps to improve comfort during night driving.

Even though these mirrors help you drive better, it does not offer a complete view of your surroundings and that’s where external mirrors, often referred to as side mirrors come in handy. 

Side mirrors

These mirrors are the most common and noticeable in a car and are installed on both sides to provide the driver with a view of the traffic on each side. These mirrors help with lane changes, overtaking, and reversing safely.

Functions and features

• Manual and Power Adjustment:

Although it is not as prominent as it once used to be some old cars are mounted with mirrors that have to be adjusted manually, but now power-adjustable side mirrors that can be adjusted from the inside of the car are the way to go. 

• Heated Mirrors:

Recently side mirrors have been redesigned based on the terrain and weather conditions the vehicle might go through. That has led to the creation of side mirrors with heating elements that prevent the mirrors from fogging or freezing in cold weather. This feature is mostly useful for regions with severe weather conditions. 

• Turn Signal Integration: 

Recently vehicles have started integrating turn signals on the side mirrors, helping to inform other drivers that you are about to change lanes or turn.

• Blind Spot Monitoring:

Advanced side mirrors could also include blind-spot monitoring systems. These systems detect vehicles that are in your blind spot and alert the driver in one way or another. 

Blind spot mirrors

Side-view mirrors do offer better visibility it still have blind spots that may cause you trouble. For this, blind spot mirrors are small convex mirrors attached to the main side mirrors, providing an expanded view of the side and rear of the vehicle.

Functions and Features

• Wide-Angle View: 

Blind spot mirrors are convex and thus provide a much wider field of view than standard flat mirrors, eliminating blind spots, and making it easier to detect vehicles that may otherwise may not be viewable. 

• Enhancing Lane Changes: 

These mirrors are particularly useful when changing lanes, as they give a clearer view of vehicles that may be approaching from behind.

• A cheap add-on: 

Blind spot mirrors are usually inexpensive and can be added to your existing side mirrors, making them an affordable solution that could help with your driving considerably. 

Convex Mirrors

Convex mirrors are often utilized as side mirrors and are designed to provide a wider angle of vision for the drivers. They typically have a slight curvature outward, enabling drivers to see a broader area, and thus helping to notice cars in adjacent lanes. Due to the way they are, in convex mirrors things seem smaller and farther away than they actually are.

Functions and features

• Improved Visibility: 

Thanks to its wider angle curve in convex mirrors helps to reduce blind spots by providing a wider view for the driver. 

• Mandatory in Most Vehicles:

These mirrors tend to be common in most modern vehicles because of their enhanced field of view.

There is no denying that convex mirrors are useful but they can also distort distance perception, 

So it is necessary that drivers are cautious while depending on them during reversing or changing lanes. 

Towing mirrors

These mirrors are uncommon on most vehicles as they are specifically designed for and used on towing trailers or caravans. Towing mirrors are side-mounted and provide a wider field of view, allowing the driver to see past the trailer or caravan.

Functions and features

• Extended Visibility: 

Towing mirrors are larger and longer than regular side mirrors, allowing for a clear view past the object being towed.

• Can be Removable or Permanent: 

Some towing mirrors are permanently fixed to the vehicle, while others can be detached after the needs are done. 

• Dual-View: 

Some towing mirrors come with dual-view functions, offering both a standard and wide-angle view for better visibility.

Smart mirrors

Smart mirrors are part of the recent technological trend, these combine traditional mirrors with advanced technology and often come with built-in cameras that project a digital image onto the mirror, offering a clearer view of the surroundings, especially in low-light conditions.

Functions and features

• Rear-View Camera Integration:

Smart mirrors function by connecting to a rear-view camera that in return provides a live feed of the area behind the vehicle.

• Improved Night Vision: 

Smart mirrors allow users to have better visibility at night, as they reduce glare and provide a better image than standard mirrors.

• Customizable Display:

One of the features that makes smart mirrors tempting is its feature that lets the driver adjust the display, zoom in, or switch between different camera angles for better visibility.

The developments with smart mirror technology indicate that they will be replacing traditional car mirrors sooner rather than later. 

Conclusion

Car mirrors come in many different shapes and sizes, each having its own ways to improve visibility and safety. From the basic rear-view mirror to advanced smart mirrors, these tools help drivers drive with confidence. In a fast-paced environment like Dubai, relying on the mirrors, and following the rules helps you stay safe but there would also be instances where that is not enough and that is where car insurance in Dubai can help you protect yourself from any financial burdens in case of an accident. 

Policyhouse.com can help you find the best insurance in the country at the cheapest price. Whether you are looking for comprehensive or third-party car insurance in Dubai, Policyhouse.com lets you choose from a wide range of insurance policies that fit perfectly with your budget and needs.