Is this the end for car mirrors?

It might seem like a ludicrous question. After all, most of us view our car mirrors to be just an integral part of our vehicles as the actual steering wheel. However, for some time now, Japan has been the first country to approve the use of rear view cameras instead of mirrors. Its reasoning is that the technology has moved on far enough for video displays to be a viable alternative - or perhaps even a preferable one! And they don’t look to be alone in thinking that, either. Volkswagen has already produced its own sleek mirrorless car, but is it truly the future of the automotive industry? In other words, is this really the beginning of the end for car mirrors? 

The flaws with car mirrors

Since 1978, it’s been the law in the UK that all cars sold here must have at least one internal and one external mirror. The European Union has set similar mandates in place, and mirrors are such a major safety fixture of our cars that most of us couldn’t consider driving without them. It means that it can sometimes be easy to overlook the minor flaws they present - flaws that could be solved by rear view cameras. 

A minor one to start off with: they have a noticeable effect on fuel economy, as they’re a source of unwelcome air resistance to our cars’ otherwise sleek, streamlined bodies. Perhaps a more pressing issue, though, is that they’re vulnerable. They’re often the first casualties of sideswipes by careless drivers, and likewise they’re usually first to get damaged in automated car washes. What’s more, the increasing sophistication of some models - such as the heated or electrically adjustable ones - means that they’re expensive for drivers to replace. 

How do rear view cameras help? 

Now, since rear view cameras are integrated directly into the body of the vehicle, they don’t share the same vulnerabilities as traditional car mirrors. It’s true that owners have to take care to keep them clean to guard against road grime and spray, and be aware for any electrical issues that can sometimes bug modern cars. However, as long as they’re sufficiently taken care of, rear view cameras provide some very significant benefits. 

To start with, they can immediately provide a much wider field of vision than mirrors, allowing drivers to enjoy almost 360-degree visibility and the elimination of blindspots. Unlike mirrors, they do this without needing to be adjusted for different drivers. Plus, in-built rear view cameras require essentially no space, which provides the extra bonus of reducing drag and fuel consumption.

So will rear view cameras replace car mirrors? 

Well, it’s been three and a half years since Japan first instituted their law, and it’s fair to say we’ve seen no seismic changes as yet. Car manufacturers like BMW, Nissan and Tesla are all lobbying for laws which permit vehicles to be manufactured without mirrors, in favour of rear view cameras instead. Despite their efforts though, here at Car Communications we think it’s difficult to see them replacing car mirrors entirely - not for a long time yet, at least! 

That’s not to say they don’t provide excellent safety benefits though, especially when used in tandem with existing car mirrors. They’re especially helpful for reversing larger vehicles, and can make it much easier to park. These are just a few of the advantages they offer! You can read more here in our ultimate guide to rear view cameras, or alternatively shop our range of reversing cameras right here at Car Communications. If you’ve got any questions or need any advice, just give us a quick call on 01254 694 537 - we’re always happy to help!