Have you ever wondered what this famous lever located under the interior mirror of your car might be used for? Rest assured, you are far from alone. Although intriguing, few drivers use it, while this little-known tool is very practical, especially at night. Discover all the advantages that this lever can bring you to improve your driving comfort.
What is the unknown function of the interior mirror?
Interior rear view mirror – Source: spm
The lever under the mirror is a rectangular tab that most people use to hang a decorative gadget on it. However, it was not designed to adorn the interior of your car. In truth, it’s the “night mode” switch in the rearview mirror. To see how it works, grab it, press it and move it to the other side. It will start to reflect light slightly differently. In other words, when you install it in night mode, it will darken everything you see in the rear view mirror. Thus, all the external light beams that usually dazzle you, through the mirror, will no longer reach your eyes.
“Night mode”, as the name suggests, is mainly useful when driving at night. Especially on long tiring journeys. It often happens that you are blinded by the headlights of the car behind you. These lights reflect strongly in the rearview mirror, preventing you from having good visibility on the road. In addition, if you have been driving for a few hours and you are very tired, this option can become a real ally. And, in certain extreme situations, it can even help to avoid an accident. Thus, by applying the night mode of the mirror, you will be able to better understand the headlights of the car behind, because the light reflected on the mirror will no longer be so disturbing.
Read also: What is the pocket of women’s panties really for?
Good to know : the tab under the mirror is now gone on some automated car models. But, don’t worry, night mode is still present, just activate it via the car’s control panel or the appropriate button on the dashboard.
Adjust the mirror – Source: spm
The interior mirror, nestled on the windshield, can be adjusted manually. Stay in your driving position and move it around, taking care to adjust its edges to regarding the same level as those of the rear window. Normally, you should completely see the rear window. In absolute terms, the interior rearview mirror should allow you to see what is happening outside your cabin as well as possible. It should not be tilted vertically to the point of having a precise image of the interior of the car. Therefore, you must adjust the driver’s seat first, as this affects the viewing angle on the mirrors. The golden rule for correctly adjusting this seat? Your feet should be able to comfortably reach the accelerator and brake pedals. You can also move it backwards or forwards using the appropriate lever, in order to rest your hands comfortably on the steering wheel.
Next, you need to adjust the exterior mirrors on both sides of the vehicle. They can usually be moved manually or electrically using buttons built into the driver’s door. They are adjustable in four directions: up and down, left and right.
Read also: What is the lever under the steering wheel for? Few drivers know it yet it is essential
What is an electrochromatic mirror?
Increasingly popular solution: auto-dimming, electrochromic or anti-dazzle mirrors perform essentially the same function as dual-position mirrors, but the mirror has the ability to change color automatically depending on the intensity of the light beams on the outside. ‘back. Thus, for example, the driver will be much less disturbed by the brightness of the high beams. The particularity of an electrochromatic mirror? It is equipped with a sensor that detects the headlights of vehicles behind and an electrochemical gel has been integrated into the glass to help reduce glare at night.
One of the advantages of this type of mirror, besides the comfort for the driver, is that it can be used not only on the interior mirror, but also on the two exterior mirrors. At first glance, it is similar to a conventional rear-view mirror, except that the manual lever gives way to a light or an indicator that signals whether it is activated or not. Moreover, it is normally accompanied, depending on the model, by a button to allow its activation.
Read also: What is the lever under the mirror for? It saves you many worries: you will use it every day
