Hi automotive lovers!

As automotive users, we often use one of the supporting features while driving: the rearview mirror. Why is the rearview mirror such an important feature? and what is the history of its creation? Let's review.

A rearview mirror is a mirror placed on the front, left, and right sides of the driver. This device functions to monitor traffic behind the vehicle that is out of the driver's direct line of sight. This improves safety and reduces the risk of accidents, as the driver no longer has to look left or right to check what's behind.

So, how did the rearview mirror come about? The story begins in 1911 with racer Ray Harroun, who was about to compete in the Indianapolis 500 but faced the problem of not having a navigator. At that time, car racing involved more than just one driver; a navigator was also tasked with monitoring the conditions behind.

_{Aitken holds the title of first-lap leader in the Indianapolis 500. Source :} https://indicars1909.com

How troublesome the racing process was back then. The assistant had to give directions to the drivers about the situation behind them. Watch out!, there's a car on the left! Opss, sorry, correction, he's overtaking from the right! And this often left drivers confused.

Illustration of Indianapolis 500 race in 1911

Since Harroun was racing alone, he installed a mirror to replace the assistant's function. This is where the initial idea for the rearview mirror came into play. Seeing the many conveniences it brought, it spark engineers with idea to create rearview mirror. It was a simple yet highly effective idea.

_{Ray Wade Harroun (January 12, 1879 - January 19, 1968) was an American racing driver and pioneering race car constructor. He is best known for winning the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911. Image source: https://imsmuseum.org/}

In the early 20th century, rearview mirrors were not yet standard. Their placement varied: on the fender, beside the hood, or at the base of the front door. As the global car population increased, rearview mirrors began to be considered mandatory. Safety regulations in various countries began requiring the installation of side and center mirrors.

Nowadays, rearview mirrors have various convenient features, such as electric mirrors that can adjust the angle of the mirror. This feature has been in development since the 1970s. Users no longer need to manually adjust the mirror angle. And in the 1990s and 2000s, auto-folding features were introduced to rearview mirrors, adding a premium feel to driving.

Now we can see that racing isn't just about showing off who's the fastest. Sometimes also generates brilliant ideas for road safety. Automotive greetings! (WR)