Radar For Safer Driving

KarmaOverDogma writes "The New York Times reports that in the next few years, auto manufacturers may look to use low powered phased-array radar in the back of cars, in combination with enhanced mirror displays, to help reduce accidents related to so-called 'blind-spots.' The system currently under devlopment is a result of a partnership between Valeo, an auto parts supplier, and Raytheon, a military contractor. They note that according to data from the NHTSA, In the last 10 years such (blind-spot) accidents led to 1.5 million injuries and caused more than $360 billion in damage in the United States alone. With an expected cost of around $500.00 (depending on the configuration), will this low-power radar system from the 1970's really help make driving safer?"

Comments

Can we make it jam police radar?

[Picass0]

I imagine if this goes mainstream (unlikely, but let say if) it's the end of 'fuzzbusters' and police radar detectors.

I demand we level the playing field, and make certain it screews up rader guns used by state troopers.

But really, do we need to be bathed in even more radio and/or microwave radiation? Isn't cancer a bit harsh penalty for tailgating?

Why now?

[Cyno01]

I remeber being told that why car makers just didn't factory install those cheap blind spot mirrors you can get everywhere, was because blind spot related accidents cause a lot of damage with relativly few fatalities. Which means $ for dealer bodyshops. Sounds pretty resonable and not so conspiracy'y to me.