CA Vehicle Code - Mirrors

[thebrad]

26709. (a) Every motor vehicle registered in a foreign jurisdiction and every motorcycle subject to registration in this state shall be equipped with a mirror so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle.

Every motor vehicle subject to registration in this state, except a motorcycle, shall be equipped with not less than two such mirrors, including one affixed to the left-hand side.

(b) The following described types of motor vehicles, of a type subject to registration, shall be equipped with mirrors on both the left-and right-hand sides of the vehicle so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle:

(1) A motor vehicle so constructed or loaded as to obstruct the driver's view to the rear.

(2) A motor vehicle towing a vehicle and the towed vehicle or load thereon obstructs the driver's view to the rear.

(3) A bus or trolley coach.

(c) The provisions of subdivision (b) shall not apply to a passenger vehicle when the load obstructing the driver's view consists of passengers.
Amended Ch. 74, Stats. 1970. Effective November 23, 1970.

Anyone have any idea why law requires a driver's side mirror? In my car, with the way my mirrors are currently positioned, the driver's side mirror just provides a lot of overlap of what can easily be seen from the rearview. I would think that the passenger side mirror would be the more beneficial one to keep.

[meemooer]

it might be because they don't want you to have to turn your head too much to check if it's clear. Most people when they turn their heads back to check, have a tendency to move the wheel slightly in the direction they are looking at. Just the way the body naturally flexes and bends.
Or blind spots on that side of the car.
What if you had a right hand drive car, under those posted laws you could have a passenger mirror and not a drivers mirror

[thebrad]

Hahah, yeah I was thinking that, but such a dumb reason to go RHD.