Side-view mirror

Wing mirror of a Volkswagen Fox. Only the outer end (from a visible dividing line) provides a wide angle view from the driver's side.

A wing mirror (also known as a door mirror, side mirror or side-view mirror, especially in American English) is a mirror found on the exterior of motor vehicles for the purposes of helping the driver see areas behind and to the sides of the vehicle, outside of the driver's peripheral vision (in the 'blind spot').

Although almost all modern cars mount their side mirrors on the doors, normally at the "A" pillar, rather than the wings (fenders), the term is still frequently used.

Car manufacturers sometimes incorporate the side indicator signals on the mirrors. This is due to the higher visibility to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians, who would see the indicator signals at a higher height when turning.

For cars, the mirrors are often referred to erroneously as rear-view mirrors.

For motorcycles and bicycles, the mirrors are usually mounted to the handlebars, and there are usually two of them, so they are variously referred to as rear-view mirrors, side-view mirrors, side mirrors, or just mirrors.

Types of wing mirrors

Cars

Side-view mirror with a caution note "Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear".

Driver's control for Wing mirrors, with tiny curb-view button (saab 9-5).

In the United States, Canada and Australia, passenger-side mirrors have this text written on the lower part of the mirror:

Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear

This is because passenger-side mirrors are convex to allow the drivers to get a wide-angle view of the road—behind them, and to the sides — but at the same time, they cause objects to appear more distant.

The flat mirror used on driver's-side mirrors, on the other hand, would not cause the same distortion.

The vast majority of newer cars allow for the mirrors to be adjusted electronically.

Side mirrors are easily damaged.

Wing mirror retraction control (Saab 9-5).

Some car manufacturers allow mirrors to be either manually pushed or electrically folded in, to protect them when they are parked. Passing cars can easily clip wing mirrors that stick out, causing damage; the folding capability helps protect them from harm.

Motorcycles and bicycles

For mirrors on motorcycles and bicycles, see rear-view mirrors.

See also

• Blind spot (automobile)
• Driver visibility
• Rear-view mirror

External links

• Side Mirror Designs