Many vehicle tips and tricks seem quite obscure but have a legitimate use. There are also many ways to secure your belongings and protect your vehicle.
Car mirrors are undoubtedly useful and a necessity for road safety. You could get serious fines for driving with a cracked mirror.
Mirrors help us overtake safely, park without hitting obstacles and see the cars behind us. They are functional and really easy to use.
But why do people make adjustments to their mirrors? And more importantly,
Why Put Bags Over Car Mirrors When Travelling Alone?
The answer isn’t particularly tied to traveling alone but to people in general. People cover mirrors with clear plastic bags to prevent break-ins. If you have tinted car windows, the only way for people to see inside your car is through the mirrors.
Covering mirrors ensures that people can’t peep into your car and see your valuables. While the trick doesn’t work all the time, it is enough to deter some thieves.
Other Reasons To Cover Your Car Window With Bags
Aside from securing your property in your car, there are various other reasons to place a bag over your window.
People commonly place bags over windows to weatherproof them during winter. Snow creates frosting on the windows, which can prove difficult to remove.
Removing the frosting with icepicks or brooms can scratch the window. A plastic bag comes off doing no damage to your window, leaving the car protected.
Frosting can crack windows in extremely low temperatures. Having a plastic bag layer is useful because your window is less likely to develop cracks.
Some chemical solutions are abrasive. They can damage or cause permanent stains on your car window. Using a bag over the window is a practical and inexpensive way to avoid damage.
Plastic bags are really easy to come by. They are cheap and easy to replace. You, therefore, don’t need special covers for your car’s windows when cleaning.
They are also handy when you are spray painting your car. You can secure your windows with plastic bags and duct tape to keep windows clear.
One of the most upsetting things about driving at night or in low light is dealing with glare. Some drivers use the full light beam. It is not only distracting but also dangerous. It could cause accidents.
A transparent bag reduces the glare from other vehicles’ headlamps. It makes it possible to avoid staring directly into shining lights. A thin plastic film absorbs the light and disperses it to reduce the straining effect.
The plastic bags are really useful when driving, especially at the sunset or early mornings. The sunlight is normally intense and usually unavoidable, even with visors. Plastic bags are surprisingly useful in absorbing excess light.
You can use plastic bags as an effective and temporary solution to driving in high ambiance. It is inexpensive and helpful to many drivers, particularly during the summer. Plastic can absorb some UV light from the sun.
When driving over long distances, your greatest enemy is fatigue. You are advised to pull over and take a brief nap before resuming your journey. But it might be impossible if the sun is shining through the mirrors.
Placing a bag over the mirrors will enable you to get better rest. It absorbs just enough light to ensure you get better quality rest before you resume your journey.
Effective Ways To Reduce Glare As You Drive
One of the key reasons people use place bags over their mirrors is to reduce glare. There are other much more effective ways of dealing with excess light.
Using sunglasses is important, particularly when driving in the summer. You should therefore invest in polaroid glasses.
Polaroid sunglasses provide optimum protection from bright light. The tint increases with light intensity, thereby ensuring maximum protection.
These sunglasses are cheap and available in most stores. Unlike regular sunglasses, polaroid glasses get designed for UV protection. To get the best protection, look at the build quality and the frame thickness.
Tint your windows to reduce the amount of sun shining through. Tinting helps massively in keeping intense sun rays out of your car. They help you drive safely and ensure your privacy within your car.
The tint provides anti-glare protection from sunlight and keeps you safe from full-beam headlights.
Tinted windows are the most common and certain way of minimizing excessive glare. They keep the driver safe.
You should invest in a good windshield. People do not place as much value in a good windshield as they should. They are really important in keeping excessive light away and ensuring that you drive safely.
Good windshields have a light-sensitive filament that gets dimmer as the light intensity increases.
It causes a light tinting effect. Some low-end windshields offer very little protection and expose you to the elements.
Use your sun visor when driving, facing the sun’s direction. Every modern car has a visor to keep excessive light away. You can adjust these visors to face the side the sun is shining through.
Visors are great as they block light and absorb heat. They are also not distracting to the driver, so you can concentrate on the road while using them. The biggest limitation of using visors is that they offer minimal angular adjustment.
You should avoid placing shiny or reflective things on your car’s dashboard. They are not only distracting but also reduce visibility. Most cars do not use reflective material on the dashboard.
If you want a less reflective dashboard, you should use a dashboard cover. These are covers that go over the dash, mainly to prevent scratches. You get infinite customization with covers, and the best part is that they are not reflective.
It might not be such a bad idea to drive behind trucks or large vehicles on sunny evenings. If you are not in a hurry, these vehicles could provide enough protection against the sun. a larger vehicle casts a shadow, shielding you from excess sunlight.
How To Protect Your Car From Break-Ins
Break-ins are rampant, particularly in cities. Cars are an easy target. They also house valuable items inside.
Locking it is the easiest and most effective way to prevent someone from accessing your car. It sounds simple, but many people forget to lock their cars.
Locking secures your property and makes it harder for people to enter your vehicle. Be careful, especially with signal jammers. Ensure you test the lock before walking away from your car.
Car alarms are a thief’s worst nightmare. Some people don’t arm their vehicle’s alarms because they can be a nuisance.
You never really know when the alarms could come in handy. It is almost impossible for car thieves to disarm alarms.
Alarms draw attention. That is the last thing that thieves want. Ensure that you arm your car’s alarm to notify you if someone tries to access your car.
Do not leave your windows open. It only takes a second to break in and steal a car. You should be careful and remember to raise your windows.
Thieves use wires to unlock car doors and steal valuables inside. If you have to leave your car window open, ensure that you raise it just above the rain guard.
Never leave your keys inside the car. People mistake placing their keys in the glove box or even leaving them in the ignition. It is quite dangerous and really risky. It not only motivates people to break in but also to steal the car.
Always take your keys with you, especially if your car doesn’t require keys to start the engine.
Do not park in suspicious areas. Some locations are prime targets for car thieves. Avoid parking in such places.
Find a well-lit street with several cars parked nearby. It helps to park in an area with decent foot traffic, as your car is less likely to get stolen in such areas.
Many car thieves have perfected the art of hot wiring a car. An experienced car thief could access and start your car in seconds. Here is where a vehicle immobilization helps. What is an immobilizer?
It is a machine that prevents the engine from turning on unless you use the right key. Most modern cars have immobilizers.
Conclusion
Why Put Bags Over Car Mirrors When Travelling Alone? The solution isn’t exclusive to solo travelers but rather to people. People cover mirrors with transparent plastic bags for various reasons, the most common of which is to prevent break-ins.
If your car windows are tinted, the only method for anyone to look inside is through the mirrors.
Covering your mirrors prevents anyone from seeing into your car and seeing your belongings. While the tactic may not always succeed, it effectively discourages some criminals.
