curve-mirror
Updated: April 24, 2018
What is curved mirror
curve-mirror
A curve mirror is a traffic safety facility installed for the purpose of checking other vehicles that are out of sight of the driver at places with poor visibility such as intersections, road corners, and sharp curves. Established by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
The city installs curved mirrors in places where the driver's visibility is poor when traveling on city roads to ensure traffic safety.
In addition to the curved mirrors installed by the city, there are also curved mirrors that are installed and managed by individuals in order to secure visibility from private land such as entrances and exits of private parking lots.
Curve mirrors are very convenient for recognizing the presence or absence of approaching vehicles in advance, but they also have the following dangers.
Danger of curved mirrors
Danger 1 "blind spot"
I'm in a "blind spot"
Curved mirrors have "blind spots" that do not appear on the mirror surface.
In particular, be careful in places where many children pass.
Because children are short, they enter the "blind spot" of curved mirrors.
Even if the driver of the car confirms that there are no other cars approaching by looking at the curved mirror, he assumes that there may be a child hiding in the "blind spot" and proceeds slowly at a speed that can be stopped immediately. However, it is necessary to check the safety directly with your own eyes.
Danger 2 "Cars that won't stop"
Curved mirrors induce non-stop
In general, drivers stop or slow down at intersections with poor visibility without curve mirrors, and drive while confirming safety visually, but when curve mirrors are installed You can check from the front that there are no cars approaching, so you tend to enter the intersection without slowing down.
In this case, if the speed of the car is high and a collision accident occurs with a pedestrian in the "blind spot", the degree of injury will be serious.
In this case, the curved mirrors, which are originally installed for safety, are increasing the danger of traffic, which is putting the cart before the horse.
Curve mirrors are only aids for traffic safety, and the information obtained from curve mirrors should be used only as a reference. It is necessary to confirm the safety directly by
Summary of risks
Recently, it has gradually become recognized that curved mirrors for traffic safety may cause traffic accidents.
The curve mirror is only an auxiliary facility for traffic safety.
In order to prevent a tragic accident, it is essential to check the safety directly with your own eyes.
Drive safely and do not neglect to slow down or stop just because there is a curved mirror.
When the city installs curved mirrors
The city takes the danger of curved mirrors very seriously and makes careful decisions when installing curved mirrors.
The following conditions must be met for installation of curved mirrors.
Target road
Target roads must meet both 1 and 2 below.
1 A road with a width that does not interfere with the passage of vehicles even if a curved mirror is installed.
2 If any of the following apply (1) City roads (including entering and exiting public facilities)
(2) Prefectural roads (when intersecting city roads)
(3) A private road through which an unspecified number of vehicles can pass (when crossing a city road)
Examination by road shape
Of the above "target roads", we will consider installing curved mirrors if the line-of-sight distance cannot be secured due to the following road shapes.
(1) Curved part or bent part (curved part or L-shaped bent part)
(2) When there is no corner cut.
(3) When there is no sidewalk on the road on the crossing side.
When not installed due to environmental factors
Even if the above conditions are met, the product will not be installed in the following locations.
(1) Roads with “stop” traffic regulations
Curved mirrors will not be installed at intersections where there is a "stop" traffic regulation, as this may encourage non-stop traffic and cause a more serious accident.
(2) Roads near elementary school routes and children's centers As a general rule, they are not installed in areas where there are many small children passing through, as short children may end up in the "blind spot", which is dangerous.
(3) It will not be installed if it interferes with the use of adjacent land or buildings.
[FAQ1] Even if I stop at the "stop" stop line, I can't see the car coming. Could you install a curved mirror?
[Answer]
When there is a "stop" traffic regulation, drivers must stop their vehicles immediately before the stop line.
Stop lines are placed before intersections, so cars on the intersecting road cannot usually be seen from the stop location, so curved mirrors are not installed.
Even after stopping, the driver should drive slowly and continue forward while visually confirming safety, and if there is a risk of obstructing the progress of vehicles passing through the intersecting road, the driver should take measures such as stopping again. Must be.
In addition, as mentioned above in "Dangers of curved mirrors", if curved mirrors are installed at intersections with "stop" traffic regulations, they may induce people to drive without stopping or slowing down, and the curved mirrors may Curved mirrors are not installed in places where there are temporary stopping regulations, as there is a risk of a more serious accident occurring than if there were no mirrors.
[FAQ2] There are some dangerous intersections where accidents actually occur. Can you install curved mirrors?
[Answer]
We do not install curve mirrors just because there was an accident.
Installation of curved mirrors may induce driving without stopping or slowing down, which may lead to a more serious accident than if there were no curved mirrors, so we consulted with the Tama Central Police Station. Consider carefully though.
Inquiries about this page
Inagi City Urban Construction Department Management Section
2111 Higashi Naganuma, Inagi City, Tokyo
Phone: 042-378-2111 Fax: 042-377-4781
