Technology eliminates blind spots

Sheldon Williams, Gleaner Writer

Blind-spot detection has been made easier through technological advances. Blind-spot monitoring technology was introduced by Volvo in 2005 and has been adapted by other manufacturers who continue to refine it.

The safety feature, more commonly referred to as Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), is given different names by various manufacturers. When activated, it warns the driver if an object is detected when the driver is moving off, changing lanes or parking.

In Jamaica, the feature is available on brands such as Audi at ATL Automotives, where it is named Audi Side Assist, and on the Mazda CX-5, sold by Executive Motors, where it is called blind-spot indicators.

Since 2011, Kingston Industrial Garage (KIG) has been offering the technology as an option on the Ford Explorer and Ford Edge. Clover Murray of KIG explained that their models offer BLIS with cross traffic alert. When the vehicle is moving at least 5mph, BLIS detects objects within 45 feet (or five parking spaces) on either side. The radar also works when backing out of angled parking spaces.

Audi Side Assist acts as a monitor and lane-change assistant. It operates within system limits at speeds of 30 km/h and over. It uses radar technology to scan the area on both sides of the vehicle and behind.

Andre Thomas, sales consultant at Executive Motors, explained that on the CX-5, "the light is on the edge of the mirror. So if I am coming up on your blind side, travelling in the same direction, and you intend to turn and have on your indicator, you would see the indicator in the blind spot. Some vehicles have indicators mounted to the front of the wing mirror; this is actually in the side of the mirror. It's unique to our brand".

The website www.howstuffworks.com tells how the blind spot technology can be added to a vehicle not originally equipped with it. According to the site, many car manufacturers offer the option of putting a special convex mirror in the corner of the vehicle's external rear view mirror. Tests have shown that these special mirrors, which are the cheapest form of blind-spot monitoring system, are as effective as the more sophisticated - and expensive - radar-based systems.