MOTORISTS have been blown away after discovering what the secret button on a rear view mirror really does.
Some cars have a special function that helps prevent drivers being blinded by bright headlights when it’s dark outside – which can be extremely useful as we approach winter nights.
Motorists have been blown away after discovering what the secret button on a rear view mirror really does[/caption]
Motoring expert Graham Conway from Select Car Leasing explained that many drivers are only just realising that their rear-view mirrors have a ‘night mode‘ — often referred to as the anti-glare switch.
Graham explained: “Car rear view mirrors are actually much more clever than you might realise.
“In most vehicles, the mirror itself is a wedge-shaped piece of glass that has, essentially, two surfaces.
“One is fully-reflective, the other is only partially reflective, and you can toggle between the two surfaces via a tab or button.
“During the day, the default position is fully-reflective.
“But when the sun goes down — when you risk being dazzled by headlights looming up behind you — you can switch to night shift mode, which brings the dimmer, less reflective surface into play.”
The secret button can really help when you are faced with dazzling headlights and help keep you safe.
Graham explained: “Modern LED-based car headlights can appear much brighter than traditional halogen bulbs, so this is an important driving hack to be aware of.
“It could also be extremely useful if you’re driving with a large van or lorry behind you, as the higher headlight position of such vehicles can often lead to glare.”
While many consider themselves seasoned drivers, a viral TikTok video has proven there’s always something new to learn about our vehicles.
A clip, posted by user @chequanxiaoqiao highlighted the purpose of the small, often-overlooked button on car mirrors.
In the video, which has racked up over 800,000 views, she explained: “The lights of the rear car are too dazzling when driving at night.
“We just need to press this little wrench under the rear view mirror-you can turn on the anti-glare function.”
The revelation sparked an outpouring of reactions online.
Other hidden features in your car
THESE are some of the most useful hidden features found in modern cars:
Conversation Mirror – convex mirrors attached overhead to give drivers a view of the rear seats.
Gas tank locator – an icon that pops up on the car’s dashboard to locate the gas tank.
Driver Assistance System – assist drivers with the safe operation of a vehicle through a human-machine interface.
Heads-up display – a transparent guidance system projecting all the vital driving information at the driver’s viewpoint.
Blind-spot monitoring – a system that notifies the driver if another vehicle appears within their blind spot, avoiding risk of a collision.
Tyre pressure monitors – a system fitted to a vehicle which constantly monitors the tyre pressures provides a warning incase of imbalance.
Some confessed their shock, and one viewer said: “Wait a minute, you mean to tell me there was an anti glare function all the nights I nearly drove off the road”
Another person wrote: “This is game changing, I am a cab driver and work all hours so will definitely try it out at night”
Meanwhile, newer car models have auto dimming that adjusts the mirror to changing conditions automatically.
The feature makes driving at night safer, the SEAT website explained.
They revealed: “The auto-dimming rear view mirror offers greater safety when driving at night, as it stops you from being dazzled by traffic travelling behind.
“It consists of a mirror element and an electronic system that detects light from in front and behind by means of photo sensors.
“If the amount of light from behind is greater than that in front, the mirror is darkened.”
