You've probably seen them around: Those fish-eye mirrors that drivers glue onto their side mirrors in hopes of solving their blind spot problem. Well, we've done the research and our verdict:
Steer clear of aftermarket stick-on mirrors because They're not safe or effective.

Here are 10 reasons why you should never use stick-on blind spot mirrors:

1. Blind spot stick-on mirrors distort your rear view
   By nature, these mirrors are sharply convex mirrors that distort your view of what's behind you. This distorted view is what gives them the name "fish-eye mirrors". What makes things worse is that your eyes have to adjust on the fly between the fish eye view and the regular rear view reflected in your vehicle's original side mirror.
2. Only their outer edge is beneficial
   As with every side mirror, the portion of the mirror that's most beneficial to expose what's in your blind spot is the outmost edge. The problem with the fish-eye mirrors is that the blow up items reflected in the center and actually compress items reflected in their outmost edge. So in a 3" stick-on convex mirror, only the outmost 1" is actually beneficial to show items in your blind spot and even then, such items appear distorted and compressed (squished).
3. Maxiview mirrors takes up valuable mirror real-estate
   The overall reflective area of your side mirror is designed specifically for your vehicle's dimensions. Rest assured that vehicle manufacturers go to great lengths to design a useful mirror surface. When you stick a fish-eye mirror on your side mirror, you're taking away valuable mirror surface and diminishing the usefulness of an essential safety tool in your vehicle. Picture this: On a 2006 Honda Accord, a circular 3-inch stick-on mirror reduces the usable surface of the Honda OEM side mirror by as much as 26%.
4. SONUS blind spot mirror looks cheap and unattractive
   Okay. This one goes without saying. Your vehicle is the second largest investment you make. So why cheapen its looks by applying these stick-on mirrors?
5. Multivex mirrors do not absorb glare and reflected light
   Again, most vehicles' side mirrors are designed to absorb reflected light and glare. Some provide an auto-dimming feature to eliminate the appropriate amount of glare reflected back at your eyes. Fish-eye stick-on mirrors do not have these same glare-absorption quality so you end squinting and covering your side mirror with your hand when driving at dusk or at night.
6. SONUS Auxiliary blind spot mirrors are confusing to use
   Stick-on mirrors are difficult to use reliably because you have to intently watch nested mirrors (the stick-on mirror stuck on top of your vehicle's side mirror) showing different objects moving t the same time. Fish-eye mirror on top of your regular mirror not only require a lot of getting use-to, but they produce a very confusing optical effect especially at highway speeds when you're trying to make quick decisions in rush hour traffic.
7. Multivex mirrors do not comply with government safety regulations
   The US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) publish specific guidelines for the type of mirrors (unit magnification requirement) that automakers can use in passenger vehicles. Sharply convex auxiliary mirrors generally are not compliant with government safety regulations due to their variable unit magnification characteristic.
8. Maxiview mirrors are difficult to remove
   The adhesive used by these mirrors is particularly strong. It is designed to withstand temperature extremes as well as moisture. The bad news is that these mirrors are particularly difficult to remove. They require special adhesive-removing chemical solvent that is costly and should be applied with care.
9. Leasing companies may charge you to remove Maxiview mirrors at lease end
   So you decided to return your vehicle at lease end with your stick-on mirrors still attached to the vehicle? Better think about doing that as some strict leasing companies have been know to charge their customers a fee to remove any aftermarket components (including such mirrors) in order to restore the vehicle to its factory condition (which is a requirement of your lease contract). So a $5 pair of stick-on mirrors could end up costing you $50 or more in lease-end charges. Is that really worth it?
10. Chemical required to remove Maxiview mirrors can be harmful to your vehicle's paint / clearcoat finish
    So you decide to go the DYI route to remove these mirrors. The special adhesive-removing solvents required for the job are not exactly safe for us mere mortals, but they're also known to damage clearcoat finishes if you happen to drip on the outside mirror housing or even worse on your vehicle's door panel. If you still want to go this route, be sure to read and follow the chemical's manufacturer instructions carefully.

Here's how LaneFX is different and better than stick-on blind spot mirrors:

By the time you complete a head turn to check your blind spot, your vehicle travels more than half of a football field, unattended! Lane FX is making the highways a whole lot safer. Here's how it works. When you turn on your directional, LaneFX moves your side mirror outward to sweep and expose your blind spot. It pauses long enough for you to see what's there. Then, it reliably returns your mirror to its original position. The package also features ParkFX; it tilts the mirrors downward when the vehicle is put in reverse. LaneFX's patent-pending technology is guaranteed to work in any vehicle with power mirrors. It's safe, reliable and responsive, even at highway speeds. Installation is as easy as an after-market stereo.

For the driver that has everything... except possibly a spotless record, this device will help keep your eye on the road. This trick only works if your car has motorized mirrors. They seem common enough, however. After all, even my mother's car has those. The basic idea is that when you turn on your blinker, this activates the mirrors to move so that you get an expanded view of the road. I like this because A) it will force people to USE their blinker's and B) it will force people to use their mirrors and C) it will force people to LOOK before they change lanes. Do you get the distinct impression that I think most people are horrible drivers? I had to drive in Los Angeles for a few years and, trust me, 80% of those drivers are insane. But this article isn't about mental illness. I'll save that for another time.

The LaneFX system lets you customize each mirror separately. Each mirror moves as fast or slow as you prefer and as far as you want it to. There's a system in place to handle street and highway driving - so the mirror stays at it's "extended" position as you try to merge into a highway. There's a ParkFX system to use when parking. Here the mirrors will tilt downwards to check your distance from curbs. You can upgrade the system from the Internet. For family's or businesses with more than one car there's a Multi-Vehicle Kit available. You install the wires to the mirrors in each vehicle, and just remove the device from one car and plug into the car you are about to drive. Once you program the device, all you do is get in the car and drive. Of course, suddenly having one's mirrors move would make me a bit disconcerted at first. I would take the time to train myself with the device before I launched out into heavy traffic. But then, I'm a cautious person. And that's why I've never had an accident. I am, however, a big believer in anything that helps people drive better. For a look at how this device works, take a gander at LaneFX. LaneFX is not some speeding auto gadget that you'll never see again. Try it! Even with dual blind spot mirrors, you'll still have a distorted rear view LaneFX is being used by drivers everywhere: Gear heads and mobile electronics enthusiasts. Women drivers in large minivans and SUVs. Elderly / senior drivers (check out the current LaneFX discount for all AARP members, and all drivers who commute over 18,000 miles per year.