M-C NORTH AMERICA, INC. SOLVES TRUCKERS “BLIND SPOT” PROBLEM

Every driver learns early in their career that safe driving of their vehicle (even the automobile) requires the driver to turn their head many times to look into an area before moving their vehicle into that area. This is required because of “blind spots” in the vehicles rear view mirror system leaves areas along the side of the vehicle that cannot be seen by looking into the mirrors.

Imagine driving a big truck weighing 40 tons or more having the same problem with blind spots plus an added problem: the driver still not cannot see the Blind Spot areas even if his head is turned because of the sheer size of the truck. “ I did not see the person or vehicle” is usually one of the first statements out of the driver’s mouth in reported accidents. Estimates continue to be made such as, every 16 minutes in our country, a person is killed or sustains injuries involving 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers or semi-trucks, and national statistics estimate that 35-45% of all accidents are caused by “blind spots”.
M-C North America Inc. is a Tennessee based company founded on the knowledge that the problem of “blind spots” in the rear view mirror systems on the big vehicles does not have to exist. Correct placement of the M-C North America mirror systems on the vehicle will show the driver all the area along the sides of the vehicle with just a glance, allowing the operator to focus attention on upcoming traffic.
The engineered mirror solution to these deadly “Blind Spots” requires advanced mirror technology that gives the operator a field of view that completely reveals the designated area and does it without distorting the driver’s perception or ability to use the images projected to make driving judgments. M-C North America Inc. has developed and is introducing this advanced mirror technology that meets these requirements.
For further information about the M-C North America Inc. Mirror Systems visit www.mcblindspot.com or call: Mark Parker, 231-981-5636.

Exterior Mirrors Must be Convex for Safety

According to accident statistics from the NHTSA and the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 413,000 vehicle accidents are caused by blind spot-related mishaps. Lane change accidents such as side-swipes damage more than 826,000 vehicles and injure more than 160,000 people each and every year. Convex mirrors can drastically reduce those numbers.

The NHTSA has stated that studies show "passenger side mirror image comparisons of convex and planar mirrors illustrate the enhanced traffic detection provided by convex mirrors. With a convex passenger side mirror the driver will be able to detect a vehicle in the next lane even if the vehicle is as far forward as the passenger side window, while the driver of a vehicle with a flat passenger side mirror, as required by S6, cannot see the vehicle until it is almost 20 feet behind the vehicle."

In 2004, the European Union (EU) passed regulation to address new rules to eliminate the "blind spot" on motor vehicles that would entail:

• Increasing the mandatory minimum field of vision for certain vehicles;

• Mounting additional mirrors on certain vehicles;

• Upgrading technical characteristics of mirrors in line with technical progress;

• Replacing certain mirrors with other indirect vision systems, such as camera/monitor systems.

The Automobile Safety Foundation [ASF] has been a leader in advocating that all automobile companies take remedial action on the production of rear-view mirrors and begin manufacturing safe side-view mirrors as standard equipment.

ASF petitioned the NHTSA for rule-making to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 (FMVSS 111) in 2005.

In light of the ASF petition, the EU's ruling, and many years of research, the ASF believes that NHTSA FMVSS 111 rule- making is getting close.

Source: The Automobile Safety Foundation

Important footnote: Viewers should also read 'Setting the Exterior Mirrors -- a Poor Reflection on Fashion' (from DSA)

Trail

This is a trail post to my first blog.

How exciting!