2007-09-14 16:46:25 · 10 answers · asked by histroy_nut 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
Because the objects ARE closer than they appear. The mirror creates the illusion that they are farther away. This is done by the curvature of the mirror.
A flat mirror surface would give a truer perspective, but then you would have a "blind" spot. To eliminate the blind spot, the mirror surface is curved, but the tradeoff is the distorted perspective.
2007-09-14 16:51:59 · answer #1 · answered by me 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Objects on the driver's side are, apparently, exactly as close as they appear. Why this difference? it's because the two mirrors are made differently. The driver's side window is a flat mirror, like the kind you find in your bathroom. The passenger side window, however, has a convex or "wide angle" surface. In other words, wide angle mirrors bulge outwards.
This unusual shape allows the driver to see more, helping to compensate for the "blind spot". In order to display more objects (such as passing cars), the wide angle mirror shrinks them. This tends to play tricks on our depth perception, since we associate smaller objects with greater distance. Hence the warning.
2007-09-17 15:53:04 · answer #2 · answered by annie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Convex mirror. Gives you a wide angle of view. It makes objects look more distant because of this,
2007-09-14 23:51:52 · answer #3 · answered by Ham8888888888 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because it is a convex mirror which makes things seem smaller (although gives you a larger field of view) on the non driver side (driver side mirrors have to be flat).
2007-09-14 23:52:41 · answer #4 · answered by bestonnet_00 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because lame-brained imbeciles are permitted to drive and may cause an accident due to their inability to think things through.
These are soul brothers and sisters with those who swing their autos left to make right turns as though they are threading a needle. In all fairness these are not all imbeciles - some are genuinely handicapped in the depth perception department. Are you sorry you asked? I'm sorry you did.
2007-09-14 23:58:59 · answer #5 · answered by Beejee 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It has to do with the mirror and angle.
This has a great explanation and diagram.
http://dza.colorado.edu/~class/Phys4510/Notes/Convex%20Mirror.htm
2007-09-14 23:53:00 · answer #6 · answered by BumpStop 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Concave is the mirror surface these people are refering to.
2007-09-15 00:10:05 · answer #7 · answered by gdwrnch40 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That mirror is a slight "fish eye" and magnifies what you are looking at.
2007-09-14 23:52:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
That way the manufacturer's are absolved of any liability if you accidentally back into something (they can say, "We told you....)! Good luck!
2007-09-14 23:52:08 · answer #9 · answered by Kiffin # 1 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because they are
2007-09-14 23:52:38 · answer #10 · answered by madcaprex 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋