A closer look
Nothing drives innovation quite like the desperate need to make sure you're currently winning. Early automobiles required the driver to physically crane their neck around like an owl just to see what was behind them, which is incredibly inconvenient when you're trying to win a race. A clever motorsport driver eventually realized that strapping a pocket mirror to the dashboard allowed him to easily block opponents attempting to pass. Naturally, everyday drivers decided they also wanted to monitor whoever was aggressively tailgating them, and the concept became a universal standard.
