[Busted]

While moving across six lanes in 70 mph heavy traffic, I wanted to adjust my mirrors. Who knew a button right next to the L/R adjustment button folds them in?! I didn't.

Now that I know that, I thought hmmmm? Must be for reason - less drag, more miles. So I have been closing them when I don't need them on long stretches of hwy. The Blue Cruise works and they still warn me when someone is next to me.

All you physicists or mathematicians out there, how much efficiency can we gain by closing them?

 

[Leaf-clarity]

2 - 7%
Why It'll Be a While Before We Can Replace Car Mirrors With Cameras

 

[Busted]

5% seems like a lot.

That car in the link with no mirrors looked weird.

 

[Leaf-clarity]

TFL did a comparison between normal and towing mirrors and there was a pretty significant difference.

 

[Henry Ford]

It seems like external mirrors should probably go away. Cameras and sensors can keep us from running into things well enough.

Kia has a system that puts a video of your blind spot on the gauge screen when you use the turn signal. It's a great system and every car should have it. It's rumored that BMWs have the same system but it's never been tested.🥁🤪

 

[TickTock]

Yeah, I really hope the mirrors on the CT are customer-removable without getting out the plasma cutter and TIG welder. I never use the mirrors on my Model3. You see so much more on the camera and don't even have to turn your head. Just cut your eyes to the screen and go. I originally purchased the Lightning just to hold me over until the CT arrived but I am really loving the Ford so will probably wait until mirrors are gone.

 

[Pdr1966]

I’ve thought that lots - i Think it is liksly coming, but there are several situations and conditions of the mirror view which might be missed and not realized until they are gone.
it will require a lot of engineering to replace them with a display that humans can See in all conditions and feel like a natural view. Then again we know all too many drivers who don’t use them anyway 😑
maybe one step toward this - is blue cruise - knowing that no other vehicles are around - they auto close at speeds above 70 mph …. Anything lower is likely not worthwhile.

 

[Henry Ford]

Why does it have to "feel like a natural view?" It seems like an enhanced BLIS with aural and visual indications plus video would be better than the current state of affairs.

 

[Cooper]

Why does it have to "feel like a natural view?" It seems like an enhanced BLIS with aural and visual indications plus video would be better than the current state of affairs.

A couple friends of mine report getting nausea by having the digital rear view mirror on in the newer GM vehicles. Even in the peripheral, seems un natural they say. I haven’t driven a vehicle with the digital rear view, but could see this being a thing.

 

[TechDaddy3x]

A couple friends of mine report getting nausea by having the digital rear view mirror on in the newer GM vehicles. Even in the peripheral, seems un natural they say. I haven’t driven a vehicle with the digital rear view, but could see this being a thing.

I think the digital rear view mirror should be standard just like backup cams. My last truck (a 21 Ram limited) had it and yes took a bit getting used to but what a safety advantage!
I could have my 3 kids in the back or tonneau cover folded up and still see plain as day.

 

[KElkhorn]

What happens when it gets covered in mud/snow/ice?

 

[TechDaddy3x]

What happens when it gets covered in mud/snow/ice?

They all have a switch to make it a regular mirror if the cam is blocked or you don’t want to use

 

[KElkhorn]

Which works for the rear view, what about when we delete the side mirrors?

 

[Kstype]

It seems like external mirrors should probably go away. Cameras and sensors can keep us from running into things well enough.

Kia has a system that puts a video of your blind spot on the gauge screen when you use the turn signal. It's a great system and every car should have it. It's rumored that BMWs have the same system but it's never been tested.🥁🤪

I am really hoping the development team for Ford SYNC can incorporate the video from the side cameras into the instrument screens when the turn signal is activated - I think that is a great feature that other vendors have deployed.

I’m mixed on the removal of exterior mirrors - As much as I like technology and know it would streamline the exteriors - my main concern is that if the cameras fail and that is the only way to effectively see then you are stuck not being able to safely drive the vehicle without repairing the camera. Hopefully a creative engineer will be able to take the view from the optics on the cameras and route it periscope style to a mirrored target (bypassing the CCD) which can be used as a backup on the dash somewhere.

 

[Kstype]

Interesting write up related to this topic:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349732751_Driver_Perception_Using_A_Camera-Based_Digital_Side_Mirror_An_On-Road_Study

 

[R.I.P.]

Which works for the rear view, what about when we delete the side mirrors?

Tesla's already have the option of displaying the fender cams on the center screen in preparation for mirror delete. I've been using it since that came out, and far for that to the actual physical mirrors.

 

[KElkhorn]

How do they hold up when it snows/ in slush?

 

[JupiterLightning]

A couple friends of mine report getting nausea by having the digital rear view mirror on in the newer GM vehicles. Even in the peripheral, seems un natural they say. I haven’t driven a vehicle with the digital rear view, but could see this being a thing.

I don’t get nauseous but it does take your eyes a beat to focus on the video in the rear view mirror. It’s just enough of a different size from a natural mirror that it’s not a perfect substitute. Using it for longer drives becomes tiresome.

 

[heliian]

The f150 has had folding mirrors for a long time. It's for parking or squeezing through tight spots.

As far as road vehicles having mirrors, it's all regulatory.

 

[R.I.P.]

How do they hold up when it snows/ in slush?

Great.