Why do taxis in Japan have mirrors on the hood?
In every country I've been in - save for Japan - cars have their mirrors on their doors. Even most cars in Japan do but the taxis don't. Any ideas as to why? It just seems strange. Here's a pic:
Compare to this:
Best Answer
Thanks @Doc for the useful link at Japan Times.
The main reason taxi drivers prefer fender mirrors is that they provide better visibility,” Osuga explained. “There is less of a blind spot so it’s easier to confirm what is happening at the rear and side of the car, especially on the driver’s side.”
Another advantage of fender mirrors compared to door mirrors is they protrude less from the body of the car, which can really help when maneuvering in Japan’s narrow roads and crowded traffic. “Those centimeters may not matter for the average driver,” Osuga allowed. “But for professional drivers, who are behind the wheel all day, it makes a big difference.”
Finally, taxi drivers feel that fender mirrors allow their customers greater privacy because drivers can use the mirrors without turning their head toward the passenger seat. “There’s no way to use side-door mirrors without turning your head significantly to the side,” Osuga explained. “That motion might be misconstrued as an effort to look into the back seat, in a way that would invade the customer’s privacy. To avoid that possibility, and to extend as much privacy as possible to their customers, professional drivers prefer fender mirrors, which they can use without turning their head.”
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What is the small mirror for on Japanese cars?
They also protrude less from the sides of the vehicle, which comes in handy when maneuvering the narrow roads of Japan. Finally, it's said that out of respect for their passengers, wing mirrors eliminate the extra head turning needed for door equipped side view mirrors, providing more privacy for occupants.What are the side mirrors on a hood called?
Those mirrors are a type of rear-view mirror and are called fend\u0101 mir\u0101, adopted from the American-English \u201cfender mirror.\u201d (In England, they're called \u201cwing mirrors.\u201d) Once upon a time, they were standard equipment in the Japanese domestic market, but they've now all but disappeared.What is the purpose of a fender mirror?
The fender mirror helps to spot the distance from sides and front of the vehicle from the kerb or footpath while at parking speeds. Sometimes even some 2 wheeler riders who carelessly put their feet close to your tires in the signal can be spotted with these .Why are Japanese taxis old?
Originally Answered: Why the Japanese taxi is all drives by aged man\uff1f In short, it is one of easier jobs for middle-aged men to get. Age discrimination (which is obvious and prevalent) means older people have a tough time switching to new jobs.Why You Need These. What are JDM Fender Mirrors? - Datsun 280Z Build Series #22
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Answer 2
We use fender mirrors on our support vans for bicycle tours. They have one huge advantage in that they show us what is right next to and just behind our shoulders on both sides of the vans. These areas are blind spots with the door mirrors and require taking your eyes off the road ahead to swivel around and look. And I imagine with the longer hood of the taxi, this improvement would be even greater than on our vans.
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