Can I Hang Items on the Rearview Mirror of My Car?
4 Answers
Hanging decorations inside the car is an illegal act, and the car owner will be subject to corresponding penalties. Below is relevant information: 1. Legal basis: According to Article 62 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" and Article 90 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law," it is prohibited to hang or place items within the front and rear window range of the motor vehicle's driving compartment that obstruct the driver's view. 2. Fine amount: Traffic police departments in many cities across the country have different penalty standards for hanging items in the front and rear windows of the driving compartment, with fines ranging from 20 to 200 yuan. 3. Safety hazards: These decorations hanging on the front, rear, or side windows may block the driver's view of the road conditions through the left and right rearview mirrors and the central rearview mirror of the front window, which can easily lead to accidents.
As a veteran taxi driver with over a decade of experience, I've witnessed too many accidents caused by rearview mirror ornaments. Those dangling decorations are incredibly distracting, especially when they block your view during turns. Last year, a passenger hung a safety charm on the mirror, and during emergency braking, it smashed into the windshield, leaving a crack that I had to pay to repair. Rearview mirrors are meant to help drivers see behind the vehicle—even a phone mount can be obstructive, let alone large items like perfume bottles. Nowadays, whenever I see someone hanging objects below the rearview mirror, I can't help but remind them about safety. After all, you can't afford to be careless—it might just be that tiny trinket that causes a major accident someday.
I run a car modification business, and I often get asked if things can be installed on rearview mirrors. Honestly, it's technically possible—many car owners like to mount dash cams or air purifiers there. But I have to warn you, the rearview mirror's structure has limited load-bearing capacity. Installing something heavy might create gaps in the mirror. Hanging ornaments is even worse—their swing during turns is more extreme than you'd think. I've seen mirror brackets get notched by metal pendants. If you insist on installing something, I suggest using silicone anti-slip pads—no drilling or adhesive. If it falls during sudden braking, at worst it'll hit the dashboard, but shattering the windshield would be a much bigger loss. Truth is, many cars now come with USB ports, so there's really no need to fuss over mounting devices on the rearview mirror.
During my driving test, the instructor repeatedly emphasized the importance of rearview mirrors, but once I hit the road, I noticed everyone hanging stuff on them. I tried hanging an air freshener, only to encounter three issues: flickering shadows in my peripheral vision from the reflection; having to tilt my head early to check blind spots before turning left; and the cold AC breeze making the dangling ornament sway distractingly. Once, I nearly sideswiped an electric scooter while changing lanes because a Chinese knot covered half the mirror. Now, I even stick my parking contact card in the corner of the windshield—keeping the view crystal clear gives me peace of mind. After all, rearview mirrors are barely the size of a smartphone screen; how can you judge the distance of cars behind if half of it’s blocked?
