‘Don’t let a dangling face mask block your view of the road’

Belgian traffic safety institute Vias, mobility organization VAB, and Dutch motorcyclists of MotorNL ask car drivers not to hang their face masks on their driving mirror. “It obstructs their view and may cause distraction,” they say. “It makes motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians invisible for drivers.”

Since the corona crisis, it has become a common view on the road: cars with a dangling face mask on the rearview mirror. It’s not a good idea, not only for sanitary reasons but also for safety. Such a face mask may block the driver’s view on the road. It’s better to stow it away. According to VAB, the dangling face mask can enlarge the blind angle.

Fine

In some countries, in Luxembourg, for instance, it is forbidden to hang your face mask on your driving mirror. When caught, you pay a €49 fine. In Belgium, it is not explicitly mentioned in the traffic rules, but a fine between 110 and 120 euros is still possible. In the Netherlands, you pay 150 euros. As a driver, you always must have a clear view of the road.