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The most useful feature on new cars that I've seen are the Mercedes (I believe) proximity indicators on side mirrors. There's a tiny red light that illuminates

by ethbro 10y ago

The most useful feature on new cars that I've seen are the Mercedes (I believe) proximity indicators on side mirrors. There's a tiny red light that illuminates to the bottom left of the mirror when a vehicle is alongside the driver's car. Solves the blindspot problem in one swoop.

mikeash 10y ago
I prefer solving it through the low-tech expedient of turning my head. I think rear cameras are wonderful. They make reversing maneuvers so much easier, and cover a blind spot that is impossible to cover in any other way short of getting out of the car. But I don't get the worry over side blind spots. They're only blind spots if you keep your head pointed resolutely forward.
- ethbro 10y ago
  If you can see through an overly wide and poorly placed B pillar, more power to you. It's been my experience that the majority of drivers can't. And not all cars are well designed with regards to visibility.
  - mikeash 10y ago
    Lean forward so you can see around it. If you can't position your head so that you can view your blind spot (possibly with the aid of mirrors) then you can't drive safely and need to adjust your seat or get a new car.
    - ethbro 10y ago
      The problem isn't sample size 1 (e.g. you, me, or any individual HN reader). It's "drivers" in aggregate. My doing anything isn't going to prevent the 800k+ blind spot accidents or ~300 blind spot fatalities in the US annually. My point is mandating an awareness aid that it's now economical to produce might.
      - mikeash 10y ago
        I didn't realize you were talking about the aggregate. With statements like "If you can see through an overly wide and poorly placed B pillar, more power to you" and "not all cars are well designed with regards to visibility" I thought you were trying to say that my strategy cannot work in general, not merely that people won't bother.
YSFEJ4SWJUVU6 10y ago
>Solves the blindspot problem in one swoop. Except if the indicator can fail silently in any case. Then the problem is worse than it ever was.
- davrosthedalek 10y ago
  Only if it happens more often than people fail to properly execute the over-the-shoulder look. I doubt that.
- cju 10y ago
  That kind of problem is now well handled. See ISO 26262.
  - jogundas 10y ago
    tl;dr of ISO 26262 would be interesting. Could not find anything short and meaningful quickly.
- pikzen 10y ago
  That's why it's called assistance. Blindspots can still be checked by physically moving, and they should be.
ancientworldnow 10y ago
Mazda has had those (as well as audio alerts) standard for years as well. Fairly certain several other manufacturers have also integrated the tech.
snotrockets 10y ago
You could also solve it (more reliably) by using aspherical mirrors, but those are illegal in the US.
cagey 10y ago
All my cars (and motorcycle) have 3.5" adhesive convex mirrors stuck to the OEM side mirrors (both sides). Cost 3USD each to remove each side's blind spot.

by ethbro 10y ago

mikeash 10y ago

I prefer solving it through the low-tech expedient of turning my head. I think rear cameras are wonderful. They make reversing maneuvers so much easier, and cover a blind spot that is impossible to cover in any other way short of getting out of the car. But I don't get the worry over side blind spots. They're only blind spots if you keep your head pointed resolutely forward.

ethbro 10y ago
If you can see through an overly wide and poorly placed B pillar, more power to you. It's been my experience that the majority of drivers can't. And not all cars are well designed with regards to visibility.
- mikeash 10y ago
  Lean forward so you can see around it. If you can't position your head so that you can view your blind spot (possibly with the aid of mirrors) then you can't drive safely and need to adjust your seat or get a new car.
  - ethbro 10y ago
    The problem isn't sample size 1 (e.g. you, me, or any individual HN reader). It's "drivers" in aggregate. My doing anything isn't going to prevent the 800k+ blind spot accidents or ~300 blind spot fatalities in the US annually. My point is mandating an awareness aid that it's now economical to produce might.
    - mikeash 10y ago
      I didn't realize you were talking about the aggregate. With statements like "If you can see through an overly wide and poorly placed B pillar, more power to you" and "not all cars are well designed with regards to visibility" I thought you were trying to say that my strategy cannot work in general, not merely that people won't bother.

YSFEJ4SWJUVU6 10y ago

>Solves the blindspot problem in one swoop. Except if the indicator can fail silently in any case. Then the problem is worse than it ever was.

davrosthedalek 10y ago
Only if it happens more often than people fail to properly execute the over-the-shoulder look. I doubt that.
cju 10y ago
That kind of problem is now well handled. See ISO 26262.
- jogundas 10y ago
  tl;dr of ISO 26262 would be interesting. Could not find anything short and meaningful quickly.
pikzen 10y ago
That's why it's called assistance. Blindspots can still be checked by physically moving, and they should be.

ancientworldnow 10y ago

Mazda has had those (as well as audio alerts) standard for years as well. Fairly certain several other manufacturers have also integrated the tech.

snotrockets 10y ago

You could also solve it (more reliably) by using aspherical mirrors, but those are illegal in the US.

cagey 10y ago

All my cars (and motorcycle) have 3.5" adhesive convex mirrors stuck to the OEM side mirrors (both sides). Cost 3USD each to remove each side's blind spot.