This is nearly a perfect device. If only you could record your own message – something situationally appropriate, perhaps. As it is, Our Lady of the Trunk is the perfect companion when you're preparing to worship at the feet of Our Blessed Mother of Acceleration. Most of us will have to back out of our driveways or parking spots before summoning full ahead from the propulsion plant, so offertory to these spiritual matriarchs could be considered part of the religion of driving. Really what this little doohickey amounts to is a reversing alarm, but it's apparently got a voice sample in its electronics, along with the standard klaxon. You couldn't pay a loudmouth to hang out on your bumper and announce with the authority of a 100dB sound pressure level that the vehicle is backing up, so how can you go wrong for less than ten bucks? The voice is only in English (sorry, rest of the world), but in the box are the requisite transducer and its power leads, a bracket, and instructions in three, count 'em three, different mother tongues. Father's day is coming up![Source: American Science & Surplus]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mk @ May 13th 2008 4:05PM
maybe prius owners need these to avoid backing over reckless kids on bikes.
Just a thought.
Brad2CV @ May 13th 2008 4:05PM
As if drivers weren't obnoxious enough....
Philip @ May 13th 2008 4:14PM
By far the best back up warning device I ever owned was a replacement Back Up Bulb made by Saab. It had a beeper built as part for the back up bulb it was loud enough for pedestrians but only for other drivers if their windows were down. I used it on a Saab and 2 MBZ's.
Brad2CV @ May 13th 2008 4:18PM
Beeping is fine, but a talking reverse alarm is overkill.
Especially if it's not in Espanol too..LOL
Fred @ May 13th 2008 4:27PM
Why in the world are the instructions in 3 languages if the voice is only in English?
Brad2CV @ May 13th 2008 4:44PM
Why in the world are the instructions in 3 languages if the voice is only in English?
LOL! it helps them assimilate into our culture? Maybe it will prove who the lazy immigrants are...they're the ones that can't say anything in English except "i'm backing up!I'm backing up!"
Chris @ May 13th 2008 5:01PM
Lovely. Assuming any of them are sold, how many of these do you think will end up as landfill? I think it should say, "Warning: Debt-ridden, gadget-loving idiot now reversing."
Brad2CV @ May 13th 2008 5:06PM
If it's sold by Billy Mayes then i'm all for it. If it breaks then I can repair it with Mighty Putty, then polish it off with Simoniz. If it stops working I can display it in my office with a Hercules Hook...Okay, i'm giving myself a headache!!!!
Galley @ May 13th 2008 6:08PM
Nice Blues Brothers reference.
Mbuku Kanyau Mbithuka @ May 13th 2008 6:40PM
Again, this article is offensive, please edit it or take it down, you need not refer to the blessed mother twice to make your point, its not a joke
Kevin @ May 14th 2008 12:48AM
You, sir, are an idiot.
You do not have the right to not be offended. If you find it offensive, don't read it. Or visit another site. It's that simple. Don't whine about it here.
If everything that was potentially offensive to anyone was removed from public view, the world would be a terrible place.
James @ May 14th 2008 7:47AM
Is my sarcasm-o-meter going off or are you just new to the internet?
Mbuku Kanyau Mbithuka @ May 14th 2008 10:58AM
I'd rather be consindered an idiot than not point out trivialization of the name of Our Lady.
NRI @ May 14th 2008 5:28AM
This doohickeyhas been used in Indian cars for the past 20 years or so. The Indian ones not only invoke the blessed mother but the blessed father too and in some cases offer incantations to the blessed mother and father.
The funniest one I recall goes off at about 140 db with an female American accent yelling "This car is backing up" to the accompaniment of various space movie sounds.
This not only announces the arrival of the blessed mother of acceleration but rubs into to the blessed minions that a priviliged being is entering their midst.
Blessed be the god of noise.