BEAR VISION MIRRORS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6863, 19 March 1929, Page 10

BEAR VISION MIRRORS

TWO AN ADVANTAGE. Regarded ir. the early days of motoring as an amusing but by no means necessary “gadget,” the driving mirror lias now become, so far as New Zealand is concerned, a compulsory accessory on every motor-car. With the ever-growing popularity of closed bodywork, the ccntrally-placcd mirror just above ’ the windscreen is now the fashiou, and tho outside mirror, on the driver’s right, save when it is combined with a spot light, is on closed cars almost a thing of the past. Yet there is a distinct advantage in possessing an outside mirror on a saloou car, if ouly because when driving at night the majority' of motorists abscure the rear window to avoid annoyance due to reflections from the head lamps of vehicles behind. When tho back window is covered by tho blind, generally included as a standard fitting, the centrally placed mirror is useless. Even when the rear window is ull obscured the central mirror has its limitations. Although in it one can observe the activities of traffic immediately behind, it is not easy to sec in this reflector the precise position of a car that, may have drawn over to its offside to overtake. It is well worth while to fit an outside mirror to a closed car. Some owners may hesitate to iustall o mirror outside for fear of damaging the coachworlc represented by tho pillar ahead of the forward door on the driver’s side. However, very neat brackets arc- available that can bo attached by a couple of wood or metal screws, these brackets being so designed that they will take the clamps of practically any mirror now offered to the motoring public. To wire an outside spotlight mirror neatly care is necessary, but tho handy■ amateur will find that tho work is not beyond his ability, and that there is no necessity to call in expert assistance. As traflic congestion increases, so docs it become more and more desirable that the driver shall have every possible facility for acquainting himself with the manoeuvres of vehicles behind, and, two driving mirrors are unquestionably a help in this respect.