“Throw it in your console, set it down on the seat or something like that, very simple,” he said. “But when you hang stuff from the mirrors, it may look like it’s just a few inches away from your face but really it blocks as you look further off in the distance, it really blocks your view.”
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — (From KRCG-TV) Hanging a mask on your car’s rearview mirror may seem like a convenient idea, but it actually poses a safety risk.
AAA and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are asking drivers to think twice about hanging anything from mirrors and say it could create some dangerous situations.
According to AAA, obstructing your field of vision, even partially, can cause you to miss things on the road like signs, pedestrians or other vehicles.
In Missouri, if a driver is involved in a crash due to impaired visibility, they could be cited.
Sergeant Scott White with the Missouri State Highway Patrol said while it’s not technically illegal, the convenience of hanging your mask on your rearview mirror does not outweigh the safety risk.
“There’s not a statute that specifically prohibits you know for example a mask hanging from the mirror,” White said. “But the problem is, if you do get involved in a crash, you have to understand that’s not necessarily using the highest degree of care by blocking your vision or obstructing your vision by stuff hanging from the mirrors.”
Sergeant White said instead of hanging your mask, it’s better to find other places in your vehicle for it so you can see the road.
“Throw it in your console, set it down on the seat or something like that, very simple,” he said. “But when you hang stuff from the mirrors, it may look like it’s just a few inches away from your face but really it blocks as you look further off in the distance, it really blocks your view.”
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