Truck and Barter: BLIS

October 29, 2004

BLIS

By Kevin

The Washington Times notes that BLIS, Volvo's Blind Spot Information System, will be available in new mid-level models:

Instead, improvement has come as it always comes at Volvo — thoughtfully and carefully. There are design tweaks, mechanical updates and interior refinements. The most intriguing new feature will not be available until late winter or spring. It's the optional Blind Spot Information System.

A digital camera capable of taking 25 pictures per second will be mounted on each door mirror and will be able to warn the driver when a vehicle is entering the Volvo's blind spot. There is one limitation. Like all cameras, it will not function in times of poor visibility, such as fog or heavy snow.

A few more details at auto-innovations.com:

The technology employed: A digital camera is fitted on each door mirror and takes a large number of frames a second. By comparing the picture frames, the system can register when a vehicle is moving into the monitored zone, which is 9.5 metres long and 3 metres wide. The system is programmed to monitor cars as well as motorbikes, in both daylight and in the dark. It is also dimensioned not to react to parked cars, roadside fences, crash barriers, lampposts and so on.

Of those people who support the recent federal government requirement that new cars have child-proof window switches, how many would support a requirement of BLIS in all new cars? Note that the system will cost about US$600, and that adjusting your mirrors is free:

Though Volvo claims such a blind spot detection system is among the most asked-for features from drivers, we found a couple of BLIS’s characteristics questionable...

That a system like BLIS has come to fruition—and that reportedly people have demonstrated a desire for it—forces us to ask: Why aren’t drivers setting mirrors better? And what happened to the good ol’ fashioned head-check?

Because ignorance, we surmise, is bliss. Or BLIS.

Posted at October 29, 2004 11:55 AM

Comments

Have you ever seen a Volvo driver? These people are unaware that there is anyone else on the road. They are a menace and the best argument against niversity liberals. If we wanted to reduce traffic deaths finding every Volvo driver and permenantly grounding them would be a good step. Yes a few half competent drivers would be unfairly punished, but very few. Helping the handicapped is fine, but providing cars for the blind is flat out wrong. Volvo is evil.

Comment by jen larson at October 30, 2004 04:07 PM | Permalink

Should I mention that my wife an I drive a Volvo?

Great comment, anyway!

Comment by Kevin Brancato at October 30, 2004 04:34 PM | Permalink