Automobile blind spots exist in almost every motor vehicle design, and for the longest time, it seemed that blind spots were unable to be eliminated.  For example, car drivers would have to look over their shoulders in order to physically scan the blind spots in their mirrors.

And age, although it certainly makes you wiser, does not help many when you are trying to turn your neck around and your body is stiff.   Therefore, it is more difficult for seniors in general to look over their shoulders.  And with the baby boomers growing old en masse, it is growing increasingly important that a solution to the blind spot problem be found.  Of course, this would apply to someone that is physically impaired.

And our car accident attorneys believe that finding a solution to the blind spot problem should help reduce the number of car accidents.

According to the National Occupational Safety Institute, this problem is especially pronounced with long trucking hauls which result in many truck and car accidents.

Blind spots might be eliminated if automobile manufacturers removed the side pillars holding up the roof of the car and designed auto rearview mirrors that wrapped around the car.  But seeing as to how these physical developments are logically impossible, car manufacturers have started to turn to technology for answers.

For instance, Audi’s Side Assist employs the use of 2 radar devices that detect cars up to 165 feet behind the vehicle.  When a car driver hits the directional signal, an LED (light-emitting diode) lights up if there is a car within 16.5 feet behind the side that the car is turning into.  Also, the faster the car is coming up behind the driver, the faster the light blinks.  The system is also pretty “smart” in the respect that if the car coming up from behind is slowing down, the LED will not illuminate even if car is within 165 feet behind.

General Motors also developed their own version, called the Side Blind Zone Alert system.  This system scans 11.5 feet out to both sides and 16 feet to the back.  The directional system for General Motors’ system works similarly to Audi’s Side Assist, except that the light turns amber if the directional signal is switched.

Volvo’s system uses video cameras instead of radar, but scans similar distances to the surroundings of the vehicles.  The cameras are embedded in the side-view mirrors, and they monitor an area of approximately 33 feet behind and 10 feet to each side.  The illumination system still applies as in the aforementioned systems.

There is, however, no evidence as of yet that these systems will work.  For instance, one limitation is that these systems only monitor one lane to either side of the car, so if the car driver decides to cut across multiple lanes in one sweep, a car accident is still possible.  Also, these systems may give drivers a sense of security and lower their own focus upon the road.  Loss of focus on the road may in turn create more automobile accidents.

Our car accident attorneys believe safety is the most important thing to us, and we believe that the new technology radar and cameras will only be effective if the motor vehicle driver keeps his or her focus on the road.

Call us now at 1-858-551-2090 or click here for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney after you get into a car accident and find out how we can help you. We speak English and Spanish, and we look forward to providing advice for your case. No fee if no recovery.