Bright lights and headlights have blinded drivers since the dawn of rearview mirrors. These lights cause blindness for a few seconds to minutes and driver fatigue. Later model mirrors have a switch at the bottom to adjust the brightness. Now that we have installed auto-dimming rearview mirrors, AKA electrochromic mirrors, you may wonder how they work and what's the secret behind them.
The secret combines an electrochromic gel between the glasses in the mirror and glare sensors that pick up how bright the lights are shining in the mirror. It is all coated and combined with an electrically conductive material.
It works like this. When the light shines into the mirror, the sensors pick up how bright the lights are. The electrochromic gel changes to a different color through the electrically conductive material. It adjusts to the brightness of the headlights behind the vehicle and dims the glare, keeping visibility safe.