Many drivers have at least once noticed a vertical stripe on the side mirror of their car, often in the form of a dark dotted or solid line, especially on the left mirror. Despite this, not everyone knows what it is intended for.

Origin of the stripe on the mirror

European cars have been equipped with mirrors with this line for a long time. This feature was introduced to improve driving safety. There is still controversy surrounding the purpose of this lane among motorists: some think that it helps with parking, others see it only as a mark.

Why do you need a vertical line on a mirror?

Experts give a simple explanation for this element. The line indicates the junction of two mirror glasses with different curvature angles. This is a common division between the main spherical mirror and the additional aspherical mirror, which expands the view and allows the driver to see the so-called blind spots, which is extremely important for safety when maneuvering and driving in difficult conditions.

The smaller, slightly curved part of the mirror makes it easier to see the rear of the road, making it especially useful for novice drivers for whom driving can be a real challenge.

Why is the stripe most often found on the left mirror?

The need for this lane on the left side is due to the fact that the driver mainly controls the road situation on this side. Although it is possible to install mirrors with such a line on the right, it is worth considering that this may slightly distort the image.

In modern car models, the use of such a strip is often abandoned, but the function of aspherical mirrors is retained, which still provides a high level of safety.

Thus, the vertical line on the mirror helps drivers feel more confident behind the wheel and be aware of the different curvatures of mirrors.