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We
have all experienced the problem. Driving along in traffic,
we look in our mirror. It looks ok. We start to turn the
steering wheel to change lanes. Then the sudden glance
in the corner of our eye, or the peace piercing sound of
a horn jars us that someone is there. The reflex reaction
is to undo the action that caused the horn-honk. To turn
back into the lane, making sure someone else didn't
start moving into our old lane. As we settle back into our
seats, we hear the silence. Silence in our own thoughts, and
our passengers conversation. We wonder if this time the
other driver will be the one who reacts in road-rage. Should
we just wave, or ignore it?
Blind-spot incidents happen every day to
millions of people around the globe. In the US alone, more
than 826,000 vehicles are damaged each year because
someone was not able to avoid the collision. Over 166,000
people are injured in those crashes. While a relatively
small number of people die, two percent on the average, it
is devastating for the family and loved ones of the people
who do die and for the people in the other vehicle. There
are no winners in a blind-spot collision or
near-collision.
The reality
of today's driving environment is that vehicles
have large blind-spots. These blind-spots are areas around
the vehicle that are blocked by various structures in
the automobile. These physical barriers are made larger
by our physical constraints. Eye movement, head and body
rotation and our mental ability to process complex decisions
in a chaotic environment increase the difficulty of overcoming
these blind-spots. Has it always been this way in driving?
Has it always been this serious? Will it be better or
worse in the future? The answers are not simple, but
they are clear. Three trends are influencing the continued
growth of blind-spot as an issue that we must solve.
Roadway Congestion
Blind-spot near collisions have been increasing as the number
of people on the highway increase. Highway congestion will
continue to outpace new road construction by approximately 13% per
year, according to U.S. Department of Transportation. This means
that during the next decade, more cars on the same roads. The problem
is more noticeable in urban areas.
Vehicle Design
Without question, vehicle design is getting more and more
exciting each year. Stylists are creating forms that capture
our imagination, our soul and allow us to identify with
our vehicles as never before. The designs are also more
practical and safer. These designs, however, often times
reduce the driver's "line-of-sight" visibility
of areas around the vehicle. Design and architecture will
continue to boldly spark our imaginations in the coming
decade. Blind-spots will also continue to be a result of
some designs. Thankfully, through technology by VRS, the
driver can drive these exciting vehicles and actually have
an increased awareness of their surroundings.
Age Related Constraints
The youngest and the oldest drivers process information
differently. The youngest drivers enter the driving pool
with little experience in the fine-tuning needed to successfully
avoid a side collision. Judgment of space, time, closing
rate of speed and projected direction are sophisticated
calculations that require solid experience and judgment.
Young drivers, surround themselves with distractive devices,
such as radios, mobile phones and other passengers. A study
in the UK showed that young drivers with one passenger
were twice as likely to have an accident. With two or more
passengers the likelihood jumped to five times. Elderly
drivers compensate for physical and mental aging changes
by exercising greater degree of care while driving and
rely on years of experience to maintain a safe environment.
Physically turning the head, neck, shoulders from a seated
position is more difficult for most elder drivers than
it is for younger people. Additionally, many find the need
to focus on fewer simultaneous tasks while driving in order
to be safe and comfortable. Elderly drivers are responsible
for less than thirteen percent of accidents, but represent
twenty six percent of fatalities. As the fastest growing
segment of the driving public, elder drivers enjoy the
sense of relief that comes from the VRS system helping
them by extending their visibility to the environment around
their vehicles.
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