Be sure to check your blind spots with ScopeOut
There have been many inventions in the last few years in order to reduce accidents due to that age-old hazard, the blind spot. Some solutions, like the electric systems on some higher-end brands like Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Buick, are rather high-tech and probably prove quite useful. Still, there's something to be said for simple engineering, like Ford's upcoming new Blind Spot Mirror, as seen here. If you are into simple solutions, but won't be purchasing a new Ford any time soon, perhaps you'd be interested in ScopeOut, a new rear-mounted mirror system designed to help see objects in your path. Because it's mounted on the rear glass, the system is visible from your rearview mirror. Available as either a single-mirror unit for smaller vehicles or a larger dual-mirror unit for large vehicles and SUV's, perhaps the ScopeOut could reduce the thousands of crashes due to the blind spot.
[Source: Sense Technologies via Motorcycle USA]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John Johnson 8:46AM (5/22/2008)
Still won't replace actually looking. Ignorant people will continue to be ignorant and rely entirely upon this. Hopefully it really works and will save some accidents from happening. But people will still be ignorant.
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Randy 1:11PM (5/22/2008)
Why don't you preface positive things like this!
"Excellent innovation! I can see how this will help save a great number of lives! My only concern is people that become lazy and rely solely on the mirror and don't look back on their own! Come to think of it, after I thought about it, the same people will be lazy and this addresses those lazy folks so GREAT JOB FORD"
Or you could just be a pessimist anti-fanboy of anything and everything that has progress written all over it... (oh I bet your friends and family wanted to say that for years)
;).....
John Johnson 1:31PM (5/22/2008)
Lol what?
shirtman 9:42AM (5/22/2008)
There use to be a mirror called the "Wink" which took care of the blind spot. You couldn't use your visors but the mirror worked great.
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PJ 9:43AM (5/22/2008)
"There have been many inventions in the last few years in order to reduce accidents due to that age-old hazard, the blind spot... "
Like, for example, *side mirrors.*
They're free, and the only "invention" you need is thirty seconds to sidle up along something stationary (in your "blind spot") and take aim.
Why the recent glut of inventions? I guess even auto engineers and driving instructors don't know what they're for.
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info 10:08AM (5/22/2008)
Exactly! Adjust the side mirrors correctly and there is no blind spot. But there certainly are a lot of misconceptions. I recently saw a brief interview with one of the NASCAR drivers who proclaimed thag the correct way to adjust the side mirrors is to see the edge of the rear bumper at one side of the field of view. That is pure nonsense because it relegates the side mirrors to a rear view morror. That's what the inside morror is for. I don't need to see the end of my rear bumper (do cars even have bumpers anymore?), what I do need to see is what's going on at the side of my car. Adjusting the mirrors correctly will take care of that problem and it also eliminates the idiotic habit of looking over the shoulder. How much more stupid can one be than to take ones eyes off the road in front to look over the shoulder?
Bob-omb 10:56AM (5/22/2008)
I know certain cars have poor visibility, but I have a 2000 Camry, and I have absolutely zero rear blind spots with my side mirrors adjusted in accordance with my rear view mirror. I still turn (force of habit) but if I have to make an emergency lane change, I know I won't get any surprises, at least.
Every time I drive someone else's car, they always have half of their side mirrors showing the damned sides of their own car. Uh, the purpose is to see into the OTHER lane, not look at your car's side molding.
tekdemon 11:50AM (5/22/2008)
There is still a blind spot no matter how well you adjust your side mirrors...and I own a Camry (and yes with properly adjusted mirrors).
You can make your blind spot very small though, but there'll still be a blind spot (particularly on the driver side), so it's still important to give it a double check.
But seriously people, don't be lazy, just give a quick glance past the mirror. If you're already looking at the damned mirror it takes only a modicum of extra effort to rotate your eyeballs a little further and turn your head like 10 degrees more.
Pat 12:50PM (5/22/2008)
Every car has a blind spot ... in some cases bigger than others.
Actually, let me rephrase, every drive in every car has a blind spot.
You can only adjust your mirrors to a certain extent and each person is different based on his physiognomy and on how he adjusts his seat ...
As for the need to see your rear bumper ... again, not everyone drives in the same context. During the week, I drive in the city, I park along side curbs, in tight spots ... my mirrors are useful in inching up to a car's bumpers, or a wall. ... and I don't have power mirrors so it's one setting for all.
I used to think the passenger-side mirror was useless until I snapped mine off and spent a week without it.
Randy 10:07AM (5/27/2008)
I'm not trying to be an antagonist! But how can the side view mirrors on any vehicle function different from another vehicle if they are are all functionally the same! Mirror+Location+Movable. That would completely discount any car (Camry) from being superior over anything else!
Are Camry mirrors "magic mirrors"? Do they make "Instant Grits? ;)
And don't tell me their height of the mirror either! Because that doesn't matter since you can adjust the mirrors!
NOTE: I really don't like responding to a secondary post and causing the original poster to have to read my comments on another comment! Sorry! :)
tankd0g 9:43AM (5/22/2008)
Precious little info available there, web site looks like a college marketing project. Does it mount on the inside or outside of the rear window? Does it create another blind sop to the rear of the vehicle?
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icu812ru469 10:08AM (5/22/2008)
I don't see this preventing anything. If you turn your head to face the back, while backing up, and go slow, others will see you and avoid or honk. If you back up just using the rear view mirror without turning, then this little device, over six feet away on you back window, is not going to produce a big enough image to see clearly... unless you have hawk vision. Good in theory, don't see it working too well in everyday practice if driving habit/skills don't improve.
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len simpson 10:38AM (5/22/2008)
We should already have wide angle cameras & screens replacing rear view mirrors. Styling could be improved by not having to avoid blind spots. The ice has been broken,car guys, so get with the program!
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spacegravity4me 2:01PM (5/22/2008)
Hear Hear! It is time to move on for crying out loud!
JD 10:55AM (5/22/2008)
Holy Mary mother o Gawd. . .
People, LISTEN! As mentioned above, there is no such thing as a blind spot on *most* cars.
I like the way Click and Clack describe it. . . "The back corner of the car never moves. It always stays in the same exact place. So there's really no reason to keep an eye on it."
So, do yourself a favour, go to http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/mirrors/
And find out how to get rid of your blindspot, without paying anything.
One of the nice things about this, is that it seems to force me into adjusting my mirrors every time I drive. Because I can't see the bumper, I have to align my sides with my rearview, every time I drive
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Toy Yoda 11:35AM (5/22/2008)
I'm just wondering about adjusting the side mirrors "beyond" the rear of your car. Would you still not create a blind spot where you can hide a biker?
In the city where the roads are cramped, you can be in the right lane, and have a biker pacing near the rear of your right bumper and the parking lane. You can miss him if the arrangement is what you describe, then when you take a right turn...
It might not be something you worry about in the suburbs or in the country, but in the city with congested roads this is a real possibility.
Pat 12:58PM (5/22/2008)
The title of the last step reads
Step 4: end result? No Huge Blindspot
Notice the word 'no huge' ...
All this proves is that if always look behind you you will always see a car coming ...
It probably means you'll smash into something because you're not looking in front of you.
That's great theory, if it's 5AM, you're alone on a remote freeway where there are no distractions ...
Throw in busy traffic, lane weaving, tailgating, and a kid in the backseat and you have an this will probably cause an accident ;-)
Pat 12:58PM (5/22/2008)
There's NO reason to think you're above checking your blindspot.
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msatlas 2:06PM (5/22/2008)
The Toyota 4Runner has something similar: convex mirrors in the upper rear corners of its cargo area. Assuming you have you rearview aimed right, they show the corners of the car no problem.
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msatlas 7:52PM (5/22/2008)
Also here's a picture of what I'm talking about: http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/Toyota4Runner/Images2/BackupMirrors.jpg