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The Blind Spot Problem is Becoming Quite Pervasive
Growing Demand for a Practical Solution Seen With Consumers, OEMs and Tier 1 Supplier Community.
The advanced Blind Spot Detection solutions market is now emerging with industry indications of considerable upside, starting with MY06 and MY07 vehicle
line-ups.
At Drivaware, we have dedicated considerable product development resources to create, develop and production-ready three innovative Blind Spot Detection systems. While other companies are focused
on producing car gadgets, we are focused on the efficiency
of the system in terms of driver awareness. Two of these solutions are entirely original innovations, never seen before in the automotive marketplace. More broadly however, each Drivaware Blind
Spot Detection solution has a compelling first-to-market advantage in its respective technology.
What You Can't See in Your Mirrors Can Hurt You
The blue car's driver sees the green car through his mirrors but cannot see the red car without turning to check his blind spot. Blind spots, in the context of driving an automobile, are the
areas of the road that cannot be seen while looking forward or through either the rear-view or side mirrors. Blind spots can be eliminated by overlapping side and rear-view mirrors, or checked
by turning one's head briefly, or by adding another mirror with a larger field of view. Detection of vehicles or other objects
in blind spots may also be aided by systems such as video cameras or distance sensors, though these are not common in automobiles sold to the general public.
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LATEST REPORT
Most Drivers Say They Don't Use Turn Signals
Maybe you've asked yourself: What is the big deal about a turn signal? Is it hard to find? Difficult to use? Why is it that 57 percent of drivers say they don't use one? Won't-use-a-signal drivers
are simply not motivated properly, according to a national survey by Response Insurance, a national car insurer.
- 23 percent say they're too lazy.
- 42 percent say they don't have enough time.
- 17 percent don't signal because they forget to turn the signals off after turning.
- 12 percent say they change lanes too often to bother.
- 11 percent say it's not important.
- 8 percent say they won't signal because other drivers don't.
- 7 percent actually say they forego the signal because it "adds excitement to driving."
(The total exceeds 100 percent because some drivers picked more than one reason.)
With LaneFX, drivers have experienced a 38% increase in consistent turn signal utilization compared
with their driving habits prior to owning the system.
LaneFX Helps Drivers Remember to Use Their Blinkers Before Merging or Changing Lanex
- Wear your seatbelt. Almost 40 per cent of all vehicle occupants killed in 2002 were not wearing a seatbelt. So whether you're a driver or passenger, buckle up.
- Slow down. Excessive speed is a contributing factor in 20 per cent of occupant fatalities.
- Each year, 25 per cent of deaths and 40 per cent of serious injuries from vehicle collisions occur at intersections. Be careful, even when you have the right of way, and remember to treat a
non-working traffic light like a four-way stop.
- In summer, there are more people on the roads in many different kinds of vehicles. Remember to watch out for motor bikes and bicycles and be courteous to these road users.
- The safest place for kids under 12 is in the back seat. Have kids travel in the back seat, especially when there is an airbag for the passenger seat.
Impaired driving is a problem that seriously affects the safety of our roads. Every year more than 1,100 people die in alcohol-related collisions - that's about one-third of the total number of
fatalities. Thousands more are injured, many of them permanently disabled. In fact, nearly 40 per cent of seriously injured drivers consumed alcohol prior to their collisions.
Driving a car taps into almost all our basic skills - perception, attention, judgment, decision making, physical reactions - as well as our ability to coordinate these skills. Alcohol impairs
these skills and our ability to drive.
- Put simply, don't drink and drive.
- If you are hosting a party or function where alcohol is served, remember that you may be legally liable for damage caused by guests - even after they have left the premises.
Check your tires
Without proper maintenance, your tires could fail and cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Proper tire maintenance is not only critical to the safe operation of your vehicle, but will also
improve fuel economy, extend tire life, provide better vehicle handling, help prevent avoidable breakdowns and collisions, and reduce exhaust emissions that contribute to environmental, health
and climate change problems.
- Driving on under-inflated tires at high speeds on a warm summer day is a dangerous combination. For safety's sake, check your tires once a month, especially before you head out on a long trip.
- Make sure your tires are inflated to the correct levels and do not exceed the load limit of your vehicle. This information can usually be found on the inside of the driver's door.
- Inspect your tires regularly for uneven tread wear, cuts, cracks, bulges and foreign objects and rotate tires on a regular basis.
Sharing the road with large trucks and commercial vehicles
There are more commercial vehicles on Canada's roads now than ever before. These vehicles can be up to 40 times heavier than an average car and take more than twice the distance to stop. To prevent
collisions with these vehicles, remember:
- Avoid cutting in front of trucks or braking suddenly in front of them.
- When you are in the driver's blind spot, move through quickly and never pass on the right, where the blind spot is even larger. If you
can't see the driver's face in their side mirror, they can't see you.
- When passing a truck, ensure you can do it safely, signal, then pass promptly. Be prepared to encounter splash and spray on wet roads.
Cell phones and other distractions
Pay attention-don't engage in distracting activities while driving. Cell phones and other devices such as electronic navigation systems
are emerging as factors in road collisions.
- Do not use a phone while driving.
- Turn the phone off before you start driving. Let callers leave a message.
- If there are passengers in the vehicle, let one of them take or make the call.
- If you're expecting an important call, let someone else drive.
How To Avoid Car Gadgets & Choose the Right Park Assist Technology for Your Driving Safety
Aftermarket companies offer three types of backup systems: rear-view cameras, sensor systems, and mirror tilt-down. Use Types to
decide which type best suits your needs. For all camera and sensor systems, we recommend professional installation.
No matter what type of system you choose, consider these things when deciding on a specific model:
Know how the device mounts on your vehicle.
Camera and sensor systems that are mounted on the vehicle’s bumper or bodywork may necessitate drilling. They may not be the best choice if you lease your vehicle. If
you have a hitch, you can consider a model that mounts in the trailer-hitch receiver. But you would have to remove the system to use your hitch. Other camera and sensor models mount on the license-plate
frame. But some states prohibit frames because they can obscure the plate.
Within types, features vary. This is especially true with the sensor models we tested. The ultrasonic systems
were generally the most sensitive, but their performance was adversely affected by rain, snow, or other inclement weather.
The microwave-based sensor systems we tested were not affected by weather but are less sensitive as a group. They also don’t warn the driver unless the vehicle or object behind it is moving.
The display quality of the camera-based models is very good, although it doesn’t match that of the larger screens on some carmakers’ systems. Most of the system displays turn on when the
vehicle shifts into reverse, but one, the Audiovox, must be turned off and on manually.
Don't Be Blind Sided by Your Blind Spot!
Unlike other "radar" detectors, LaneFX has no learning curve. LaneFX is a WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) system that uses what you already use - your vehicle's
side mirrors - to show you what's in your blind spot zone. With its extensive customization options, LaneFX adapts to your driving
style, not the other way around.
Don't forget: your mobile electronics retailer is best for installing your LaneFX system, but not factory systems like Volvo BLIS or ValeoRaytheon. Don't settle for the nerdy car
gadgets, get LaneFX and get the latest driver safety technologies. Lane change or merge with the latest blind spot mirrors
and auto safety technologies.
RELATED TOPICS:
- radar detectors
- mobile electronics
- latest gadgets for drivers
- Auxiliary blind spot convex mirrors
- Audi Q7
- Volvo BLIS for S80 and XC90 SUV
Top 5 Auto Safety Technologies
Which of the often-expensive new technology might really save your life? Cars and trucks have become a lot safer in the past decade, but some 43,000 people still die every year on U.S.
highways. To be sure you and your family do not wind up among these statistics, you want the latest and best auto safety equipment available when you buy a new car. But unless you can afford
a luxury car--where most safety gear will be standard--you will have to make choices about how much to spend on optional auto safety equipment.
Some state-of-the-art auto safety devices--such as blind spot detection systems --aim to help you survive once an accident happens. Others--even better--help
to control skids and other dangerous situations, aiming to avoid accidents entirely. To stay safe, you ideally need both preventive and protective equipment. New auto safety gear may be especially important
if you are thinking about buying a sport utility vehicle (SUV).
J.D. Power & Associates' Consumer Ratings of Top 5 Auto Safety Technologies:
- Tire-pressure monitoring
- LaneFX style blind-spot detection / side assist / collision warning
- Lane-departure warning
- Emergency brake assist/collision mitigation
- Rearview backup camera
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