Do you know the functions of different mirrors on a truck?

Rearview mirrors provide us with significant safety benefits by compensating for blind spots in our field of vision while driving. Their role is even more pronounced in commercial vehicles, where they come in a greater variety compared to passenger cars. Today, let's discuss some important aspects of rearview mirrors.

According to the installation method, rearview mirrors can be divided into two types: side mirrors and door mirrors.

Exterior side mirrors have many advantages, such as easy installation, affordable prices, and the ability to extend forward to the A-pillar. This allows the driver to observe the rear road conditions using peripheral vision without having to turn their head, reducing the strain of driving.

However, there are also some significant drawbacks. For example, the long mirror frame can cause vibrations during driving, making it difficult to see the road conditions clearly. In narrow spaces, the risk of scraping against obstacles is increased.

With the phasing out of exterior side mirrors, door mirrors have become widely used. As the name suggests, "door mirrors" are rearview mirrors installed on the doors of vehicles, and they have their own characteristics. For example, they can make the overall appearance of the vehicle more harmonious and aesthetically pleasing. The shorter mirror frame reduces vibrations, resulting in better clarity of vision while driving.

However, door mirrors also have some drawbacks. For instance, when observing the rear, the driver needs to turn their head more, which can lead to fatigue.

Apart from the installation differences between exterior side mirrors and door mirrors, trucks also have some specific function mirrors such as main rearview mirrors and wide-angle mirrors.

In addition to the differences in installation methods between exterior side mirrors and door mirrors, trucks also have several specific function mirrors, such as main rearview mirrors and wide-angle mirrors. Let's explore their specific roles and characteristics.

Main Rearview Mirror: The main rearview mirror is the largest piece of reflective area on the truck, it is the most utilized and is mainly used to look at the sides of the body.

Rearview wide-angle mirror: The rearview wide-angle mirror is typically housed within the main rearview mirror and is situated below it. It has a greater curvature and wider field of view, primarily serving to compensate for any limitations in the main mirror's perspective.

Downward Blind Spot Mirror: The area below the right side of the driver's cabin is a visual blind spot, and combined with the large size of trucks, any obstacles in that area cannot be directly seen by the driver. This blind spot can easily lead to accidents. To compensate for this deficiency, some truck models are equipped with a downward blind spot mirror installed on the right side door. This mirror is used to supplement the observation of the blind spot on the lower right side of the driver's cabin.

Front Blind Spot Mirror: In addition to the right side of the driver's cabin, the lower front portion is also a visual blind spot, and the front blind spot mirror is designed to supplement this blind spot from that angle. This mirror is particularly useful in certain special environments.

Interior Rearview Mirror: This rearview mirror is actually not worth mentioning because its original purpose is to observe the rear of the vehicle through the rear window. However, in trucks, the rear window's visibility is obstructed by the cargo container, rendering this mirror useless for its intended use. Instead, it has become a life mirror for some truck drivers.

Trucks have numerous blind spots due to their long body, and in order to compensate for these visual blind spots and create a safe driving environment, it is essential to equip necessary blind spot mirrors. However, having mirrors alone is far from sufficient. Drivers should learn how to effectively and correctly utilize these mirrors to fully leverage their intended purposes.