Mirrors on the highway

We will not agree to requests for mirrors to be placed on the highway. They can increase risk and reduce safety because they:

• reflect light and interfere with a driver's vision
• reduce the ability to judge an oncoming vehicle's speed
• create an unreasonable dependence on the mirror
• distort or restrict the driver's view if dirty
• are an easy target for vandals
• could cause damage to users of the road if the glass is broken

If you want to put a mirror on private land, the landowner must agree and planning permission may be necessary. Please contact your district or borough council for further advice.

Mirrors placed on the highway are illegal signage and should be removed. There are other ways to improve visibility when leaving a property, which includes cutting back hedges or removing solid obstructions such as fences.

If you are concerned about a mirror on the highway, you can report this using our Highways Reporting Tool.