The phrase "objects in (the) mirror are closer than they appear" is a safety warning that is required to be engraved on passenger side mirrors of motor vehicles in many places such as the

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, and

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. It is present because while these mirrors'

convexity Convex or convexity may refer to: Science and technology * Convex lens, in optics Mathematics * Convex set, containing the whole line segment that joins points ** Convex polygon, a polygon which encloses a convex set of points ** Convex polytope ...

gives them a useful

field of view The field of view (FoV) is the extent of the observable world that is seen at any given moment. In the case of optical instruments or sensors it is a solid angle through which a detector is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. Human ...

, it also makes objects appear smaller. Since smaller-appearing objects

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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. 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 A catchphrase (alternatively spelled catch phrase) is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through word of mouth and a variety of mass ...

that has been used for many other purposes. These include books,''Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear'', a 1995 novel by

Katharine Weber Katharine Weber (born November 12, 1955) is an American novelist and nonfiction writer. She has taught fiction and nonfiction writing at Yale University, Goucher College, the Paris Writers Workshop and elsewhere. She held the Visiting Richard L. ...

. films (including non-English ones), cartoons, songs, music albums, and other contexts.

Notes

References

{{Reflist English phrases Mirrors Automotive safety Optical illusions

In popular culture

See also

Notes

References