Recently, I read a story that broke my heart. But, it also resonated with me, leading to me taking extra precautions with my own children.

Here’s the story:

In August, 2016, 19 year old William Patterson was feeling a bundle of emotions. He was sad to say goodbye to his family for the next four months as he left for college, but he was excited to start a new phase of his life at the University of North Carolina. And, on top of that, his father had just gifted him a used car as a graduation present.

“But if I knew then what was going to happen,” Johnathon Patterson says, “I never would’ve given it to him. I wouldn’t have let him leave the house.”

Will was making good time as he entered North Carolina. The sun would be setting soon, and the rain was starting to pick up. Ultimately, this would prove fatal for Will.

As the rain covered his car, he turned his wipers up to a higher speed. Unfortunately, this did nothing for his side mirrors, which were also accumulating droplets of water.

Unfamiliar with the road he was on, Will was relying on his GPS to tell him where to go. Suddenly, he heard the voice tell him, “Take Exit.”

Will was in the middle lane, so he’d have to quickly get in the right lane to make his exit. He checked his side mirror, but the rain made it difficult to see anything. However, he didn’t see anybody.

John Patterson got a phone call a little after 7:30 p.m. When Will had changed lanes, there had been a large truck coming. The driver hadn’t turned the headlights on. The truck spun Will’s car out, and he slammed into the metal divider for the exit.

First responders were on the scene in less than ten minutes. But it was too late.

Will Patterson was pronounced dead at the scene.

“I still remember his smile before he left,” his father says, fighting the tears. “He told me not to be too sad, because he’d be seeing us again soon.”

When I read it, I couldn’t help but feel for John. And I understand how it happened, too. My own mirrors make me nervous in the rain, and I’ve been driving for over 20 years. Imagine a kid like Will with no experience, relying on his side mirrors, only to be let down.

The reason I read about all of this was because John Patterson made the news again recently, but this time for a better reason. Here’s an excerpt from the story:

“Today, John Patterson has committed his life to making sure no one else suffers the same fate as his son. By utilizing his engineering degree, he’s invented a way to make mirrors rain-proof, as well as other key safety features to keep drivers protected. It’s called MirrorAid.

“’Studies show fatal car crashes are four times more likely to occur on a rainy day,’ Patterson says. ‘I’m looking to reduce that number.’”

Wow. You can’t help but respect the man, trying to turn his tragedy into a way to help other people.

In fact, I was so interested by this story, that I decided to do some research into his MirrorAid.

Put simply, it’s like a “film” or a “screen” that acts as a protector for your car’s side-view mirrors. But this protector doesn’t just keep them from getting damaged, it does much more…

Rain “slicks” right off the mirror, instead of beading up and impairing vision. Fog has no effect on the mirror, either. The mirror stays completely clear, even in the foggiest weather.

Plus, it has anti-glare properties, meaning that cars’ headlights don’t “shine” in your eyes. You still see them clearly, but without the glare that causes you to squint.

First off, the MirrorAid is made up of several layers. Each layer has its own individual purpose, which is why it is so resistant to so many different things.

A Nano-hydrophilic layer keeps water from beading, while a PET (Polyethylene terephthalate. Fun… right?) material keeps the mirror from fogging up.

In addition, there’s an “HD” layer, which is what keeps headlights from “glaring” up in your eyes.

Overall, the MirrorAid seems like a well-thought-out and well-constructed product for those who want to make driving easier and safer.

In fact, people all over are using the MirrorAid to help keep them safe while driving.

Although it was originally advertised to the trucking industry to help the product find its legs, it’s now expanding into the larger marketplace, where millions of Americans are seeing the benefits.

Plus, it’s a one-size-fits-all type of deal, so there’s no worrying about getting the “right one” or if it will fit or not.

But, after reading all this, the first thing I asked myself, was…

Overall, I was really impressed with the MirrorAid. For the value, you can’t go wrong. It’s really nice to be able to buy a little peace of mind.

I went ahead and got a couple more for my kids, just so I know they’re “that much” safer.

And, I’m just really glad to know that the person who is looking out for my kids, is doing it because he knows the true value a parent holds in their child.

Thank you, John Patterson, and God bless.

***Update: Thursday, August 27, 2026*** - Ever since MirrorAid was featured on TV, an incredible amount of buzz has been generated and has since sold over 2 million units. Due to its popularity and positive reviews, the company is so confident in their product that they are now offering a one-time first time buyer BOGO discount. To see if they are still available in your state, click on your state below or the button underneath the map.