The invention of the rearview mirror is credited to several pioneers, each contributing uniquely:
- Dorothy Levitt, a British female racing driver and motoring pioneer, is credited with inventing the concept of the rearview mirror around 1909. She suggested its use for drivers in her booklet "The Woman and the Car," advocating for a hand-held mirror to see behind while driving, years before it became standard in cars.
- Ray Harroun, an American racecar driver, used a rearview mirror on his Marmon "Wasp" racecar during the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911. He devised the mirror to replace the need for a riding mechanic to look behind him, though the rough track made it hard to see clearly.
- Elmer Berger, an inventor from St. Louis, Missouri, is credited with obtaining the first patent for the automotive rearview mirror in 1921. He manufactured and marketed the mirror commercially under the name "COP-SPOTTER," popularizing its use in street vehicles.
In summary, Dorothy Levitt conceived the idea and wrote about it first, Ray Harroun applied it in racing, and Elmer Berger patented and commercialized the rearview mirror for automobiles. This progression helped evolve the rearview mirror into the indispensable safety feature known today.
