Radar beam aims to cut crashes
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IN A radar device which fits to the front of trucks and alerts the driver if he is too close to the vehicle in front could soon be on sale in the UK.
The US firm behind the invention says it could cut accidents dramatically and save operators hundreds of pounds in insurance bills. It hopes to sell the product, which is on trial with a number of American transport operators, for about £900.
The device is attached to the front grille and senses how fast the truck is driving in relation to the vehicle in front. If there is a danger of a crash — for example, if the motorist ahead brakes suddenly — it emits a bleep in the cab, alerting the driver.
If drivers are given an extra half second to react, 60% of rear collisions could be avoided, according to the company which invented the product, Californiabased IVHS,
The sensor has a range of 100m and a memory — similar to the "black box" in an aeroplane — which records the speed and position of vehicles as a crash occurs, and this can help investigators determine the cause.
IVHS hopes to set up European distributors and will begin selling the device, the Vehicle On-Board Radar Collision Warning System, in the UK by the end of next year.