signal mirrors for 2010 Prius

I think the real reason for no signal mirrors is.... you have to buy the Lexus hs250 to get them. They must be a symbol of Lexus Luxury. Have any Toyotas been offered in the US with signal mirrors? Come on it's a 15 dollar part.

 

IIRC, the Scion has them. What is that, Scion snobbery?

Seems strange that both the upper and lower levels have them, but the
solid center doesn't.

As to the Prius not having them -- Jeez, even the VW Beetle does --
maybe it's a weight issue.

 

I need to be educated on this: why are signal mirrors so desirable?

 

So that if you signal a lane change into an occupied lane where the occupying driver cannot see your rear signal (i.e. it is behind his head, or his A pillar, or he is one of the many people with poor peripheral vision), he still has some warning that you are barging into his space.

It also helps on 3+ lane highways when two cars signal simultaneous lane changes into the same space from opposite sides. On many vehicles, both the front and rear signals are nearly invisible from the side.

Of course, with few Americans using signals at all, the benefits are limited.

 

Hello Fuzzy:

Thanks to you and Tideland for your responses. They were helpful.

Might I also suggest a $2 solution that will help with the lane changing? It is a 2 inch round wide-angle mirror, that you stick on to your driver's side mirror.

I have used them for years. I stick them to the lower left hand corner of the driver's side (left side) mirror. They enable me not only to see someone in my "blind" spot, but also the "merging blind spot" from two lanes over.

I have the habit of always casting a quick glance at the wide angle mirror when changing lanes to the left, and for other maneuvers. It has saved me several times when someone has unexpectedly jumped into the left lane blind spot, or is merging right when I am merging left.

I also properly adjust my right hand mirror to see the right lane blind spot. Since most cars in the U.S. that have factory installed right hand mirrors already have wide-angle models on the right, there is no need for a stick on one on this side.

I agree that mirror mounted indicators can provide an additional measure of safety. I especially like increased visibility these can provide for oncoming traffic. Often it seems that front turn signal indicators on many cars are not very visible in the daytime.

 

Same here. I prefer zero overlap, with a narrow gap much smaller than any motorcycles in the adjacent lane. Cycles two lanes away can hide, so drivers who spend much time driving at night on roads this wide should set for no gap.

In dense urban traffic, I have a far bigger problem with signals eclipsed by the A pillar or left side mirror, which hide until they start moving into my lane. A few SUV models have signals mounted so high they hide behind my rearview mirror, so as they move into my space, I have already laid on the horn before their signal pops out from behind my mirror. Yet they think they have sufficient space for a safe lane change.

 

Thank you. Absolutely right. These exist not for us, but for those who aren't as aware as they should be.
ok they look cool too

 

I don't think I'd use a signal mirror. Where I live, in Kanas City, if you use your turn signal when changing lanes, the motorists see that as a signal to speed up and not let you in. They aren't very nice. When I drive in the San Francisco area, I'd use it. The people are much nicer and if you use your turn signal they actually slow down to let you in. I'm thinking of moving to Denver. Does anyone know if drivers in Denver let you change lanes if you turn on your signal?

 

I didn't mean to offend anyone. I'd never heard of signal mirrors before and did a search for them on the site like I thought I was supposed to instead of posting a new thread.

 

Australia gets signal mirrors and South Aussie drivers know that when someone indicates they want to change lanes into the lane your in in front of you, you must accelerate to close the gap. Therefore no one indicates their intention to change lanes. In Sydney when you indicate people make room for you.
I'm trying to introduce Sydney style driving to Adelaide.

 

why not combine all three threads on this subject?