Knowing what is happening around a car is absolutely vital to driving a vehicle safely, whether to avoid danger or if you are about to perform a maneuver.
It’s no surprise then that mirrors are checked as part of an annual MOT and can also be the reason why you fail the inspection.
The driver’s vision of the road is taken into account in the annual inspection, which involves not only a check of the mirrors but also an evaluation of the windshield and wipers.
To pass the MOT, one of the requirements is that the rearview and exterior mirrors are secured.
The mirrors must also provide an adequate view of the rear and sides of the vehicle.
Faulty mirrors could not only fail your MOT, but could also be very dangerous on the road.
“Unsecured, broken or poorly adjusted car mirrors can not only make it difficult for drivers to see their blind spots correctly, but can also lead to other hazards and MOT failures in some cases,” according to Chris Jevons, commercial director. from JTAPE.
“To make sure you avoid these driving mistakes and do your part to keep yourself and other drivers safe, here are some of the most common car mirror mishaps to watch out for.”
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What to look for when checking mirrors
The mirrors are not properly secured
You are responsible for making sure your mirrors are properly secured, especially if they were recently hit or if the glass was recently replaced.
“If your car’s rear-view mirror is damaged, lost or stops working, these defects could result in a failed MOT,” according to Chris.
The expert recommends checking your mirrors every few months, especially if you think they might have been bumped.
The expert also suggests a sturdy mounting tape that can be used to help secure a loose mirror and keep it in place.
Poorly adjusted mirrors
When our mirrors are not adjusted correctly, our vision while driving is affected.
Chris commented: “While this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll fail an MOT, as adjustments are different for everyone, broken mechanisms for adjusting the mirrors could lead to failure.
“If the mechanisms are not working, this could mean that maximum visibility is not possible, which can be dangerous when changing lanes, turning corners and scanning for hazards.”
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Broken mirror indicator lights
“If your car has flashing lights in the mirrors, these must be working correctly, otherwise you could pass the MOT,” warns the expert.
A malfunction that has caused the light to flash continuously or not flash at all could be considered to be misleading other drivers who might be looking at the lights to know when you are changing direction.
Chris added: “You can check if yours is working properly by looking at the reflection of the indicator lights when it’s parked.”
