Which type of mirrors can distort distance perception and should be noted during the vehicle’s equipment checks?

• A. Curved/convex/spot mirrors
• B. Flat windshield mirrors
• C. Rear-view mirrors only
• D. Side mirrors with no curvature

Answer: (A)

Distortion in distance perception comes from curved mirror surfaces. Curved, convex, or spot mirrors broaden the field of view, which is helpful for seeing more of the lane and blinding spots. But they shrink the reflected image, so objects appear smaller and seem farther away than they actually are. That misleading sense of distance is why these mirrors need to be noted during equipment checks: you must recognize that distances behind or beside you may not be perceived accurately, so you compensate by checking lane position with a quick head turn and by leaving extra following distance when necessary. Flat mirrors, by contrast, show objects at roughly their true size and distance, so they’re not prone to this same distortion, though they provide less coverage.