Objects in mirror are closer than they appear
{{short description|Safety warning on convex mirrors}}
{{Other uses|Objects in the Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear (disambiguation)}}
{{broader|Wing mirror}}
{{Italic title}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
File:Rear-view-mirror-caption.jpg
File:Sideview Mirror Korea.jpg
File:GCC Grand Marquis Mirror Warning.jpg-language "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear" warning]]
The phrase "objects in (the) mirror are closer than they appear" is a safety warning that is required{{efn|For example, in the US, Part 571 - Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, [https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2004-title49-vol5/xml/CFR-2004-title49-vol5-sec571-111.xml Section 571.111] S5.4.2. Retrieved 8 March 2023. "Each convex mirror shall have permanently and indelibly marked at the lower edge of the mirror's reflective surface, in letters not less than 4.8 mm nor more than 6.4 mm high the words 'Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear.{{' "}}}} to be engraved on passenger side mirrors of motor vehicles in many places such as the United States, Canada, Nepal, India, and South Korea. It is present because while these mirrors' convexity gives them a useful field of view, it also makes objects appear smaller. Since smaller-appearing objects seem 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.[http://www.physlink.com/education/AskExperts/ae449.cfm Why does the passenger side window on my car state 'objects in mirror are closer than they appear?'] Explanation from PhysLink.com. 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 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. films (including non-English ones),{{efn|Such as the Iranian film {{ill|Objects in Mirror|fa|اشیاء از آنچه در آینه میبینید به شما نزدیکترند}} }} cartoons,{{efn|Probably the most famous instance in pop culture was showing the approach of a Tyrannosaurus rex in the 1993 film Jurassic Park, which was parodied in Toy Story 2. In the 1980s, Gary Larson, in his syndicated cartoon series The Far Side, published a cartoon showing a rear view mirror inscribed with the warning, filled with a giant eye.}} songs,{{efn|"Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are," a 1994 song written by Jim Steinman and performed by Meat Loaf.}} music albums,{{efn|For example, Objects in the Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear, a 1993 album by Nancy Moran.}} and other contexts.{{efn|"Subjects in the mirror are more far than they appear" the title of experimental visual project by Hungarian director/production designer Pater Sparrow.}}
See also
{{Portal|Automobiles}}
- {{annotated link|Vehicle blind spot}}
- {{annotated link|Blind spot monitor}}
- {{annotated link|Parking sensor}}
- {{annotated link|Pedestrian safety through vehicle design}}
- {{annotated link|Rear-view mirror}}
- {{annotated link|Road traffic safety}}
- {{annotated link|Mind the gap}}, another safety warning used at various London Underground stations that has also become a well-known catchphrase.
Notes
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