The side mirrors are most valuable because they show what s behind your vehicle as well as what s on either side.
Driving with broken driver side mirror.
Left mirror is obscured by an unwiped portion of windshield or mirror is mounted so it cannot be adjusted from driver s seat.
With many drivers having to park their cars on the road or other high risk places such as shared car parks their vehicles are unfortunately prone to wing mirror damage.
Remember nearside is near to the pavement.
Fortunately if it is just a matter of a broken side mirror many states allow officers to issue fix it tickets.
So yes you do need the drivers side mirror and failing to have a mirror puts your vehicle in a position of not meeting safety requirements which could be an unsafe vehicle offence plate removal and towing of vehicle.
Applies to 1969 and subsequent model vehicles note.
If just the mirror is damaged it can be replaced relatively easily.
The passenger and driver s side mirrors are collectively known as the wing mirrors.
Without all three mirrors in place and in good condition you re not as safe while you drive.
If the actual mirror housing is broken on one of your side view mirrors replacing it will take a little bit extra time youâ ll need a new housing and new glass.
The best option the best option is to have your mirror replaced if itâ s broken or damaged.
Benefits of wing mirrors.
They re designed to give you visibility of up to 200 feet behind your vehicle which is essential when you re overtaking switching lanes turning and parking.
Without wing mirrors the world of driving would be far more dangerous both for you inside the car and those outside the car.
Every motor vehicle operated singly or when towing any other vehicle shall be equipped with a mirror so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of such motor vehicle.
So if your state s traffic laws require that a car have one or two side view mirrors and one of your side mirrors is broken you can be pulled over and ticketed.
While you can drive with a broken or missing mirror it doesn t mean you should.
You can t use a vehicle that s unsafe or has been modified or doesn t comply with standards of registration.
Technically you could drive with a broken side mirror or no side mirrors at all and experience no issues.
Whether caused by a passing car driven carelessly or by a large vehicle squeezing down the road wing mirrors can often be easily broken smashed or removed completely.
In victoria as per vicroads fines and penalties information driving without a side mirror would put you at risk of getting pulled over for a similarly generic road rule.