SHE SAYS ...

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33958, 26 September 1975, Page 12

SHE SAYS ...

When you’re driving, you need to be able to see what’s going on behind you as well as what’s happening in front and on each side, and for that you naturally need a good rearvision mirror. In fact, as far as I’m concerned, you need at least two good mirrors, and preferably three, especially on multilaned roads where you can have traffic zipping past on both sides of you. Then there’s the need to be able to see what’s coming when you’re parked driver’s-side-to-kerb in a one-way street.

It’s surprising to me how many car-owners seem to be prepared to bumble along with only the above-the-windscreen rear-vision mirror supplied by the carmaker, and in lots of cases that’s obviously out of adjustment and not much use to them. I’d guess they’re the ones who usually cut you off in lanes, and pull over on you just when you’re going to pass, quite apart from flinging open the door in your path as you drive past their parked car. So you clearly need outside mirrors on your car. The question is should they be wing mirrors, or mirrors mounted on the door? Some makers provide the car complete with piirrors, but this isn’t universal, and not everyone has a new car anyway. So presumably you’ve got a choice. Both types have got things in their favour. You don’t have to move your

eyes much to glance in a wing mirror, but if it’s out of adjustment — and people will walk into them when the car’s parked — then it’s also out of reach, and no use. You can’t reach-out and wipe rain or mist off the glass either. With a door mirror, on the other hand, it’s easy, to reach out and adjust it from the driving seat, or wipe the glass clear. A few cars have even got real luxury door mirrors, with a little lever inside the door so you can adjust the mirror without having to put your hand out into the unfriendly airstream

Against this, you have to move your eyes more to see in a door mirror, although you usually get a better field of view because the mirror’s closer to your eyes.

Another disadvantage is that door mirrors tend to require adjustment more often, because they’re more sensitive to the driver’s seating position. Set the mirror then move the seat and you have to set the mirror again for the new position. But in spite of this, I’m in favour of the door mirrors because they’re so easy to adjust, and because I think they give a better view. The ideal’s probably a door mirror on the driver’s side and a wing mirror on. the other side, but that doesn’t look neat and tidy on a car: practical but not symmetrical.