Objects in mirror are closer than they appear

Side-view mirror with legend

Main article: Wing mirror

The phrase "Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear" is a safety warning that is required^[1] to be engraved on passenger side mirrors of motor vehicles in the USA, India, Canada and Australia. It is present because while these mirrors' convexity gives them a useful field of view, it also makes objects appear smaller. Since smaller-appearing objects seem farther away than they actually are, a driver might make a maneuver such as a lane change assuming an adjacent vehicle is a safe distance behind, when in fact it is quite a bit closer.^[2] The warning serves as a reminder to the driver of this potential problem.

In popular culture

Despite its origin as a utilitarian safety warning, the phrase has become a well known catch phrase that has been used for many other purposes. Some of them are:

• Objects in the Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear, a 1993 album by Nancy Moran
• Objects in the Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear, the 2000 debut album of rap rock group Confrontation Camp
• Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear, a 2005 album by Jozef van Wissem
• Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear, a 1995 novel by Katharine Weber.
• Showing an approach of a Tyrannosaurus rex in the film Jurassic Park, which was parodied in Toy Story 2.
• A Far Side cartoon by Gary Larson in which the side mirror showed a very large eyeball.
• "Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer than They Are," a 1994 song performed by Meat Loaf and written by Jim Steinman

References

1. ^ For example, in the U.S, PART 571 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Section 571.111 S5.4.2 "Each convex mirror shall have permanently and indelibly marked at the lower edge of the mirror's reflective surface, in letters not less than 4.8 mm nor more than 6.4 mm high the words ``Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear."
2. ^ Why does the passenger side window on my car state 'objects in mirror are closer than they appear?' Explanation from PhysLink.com.