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posted by
Fnord666
on Thursday January 02 2020, @04:15AM
from the What-could-possibly-go-wrong dept.
from the What-could-possibly-go-wrong dept.
Mirrors have been an integral part of motor vehicles for over a century. The low tech solution has solved the major visibility issues involved with driving and now car makers think they can do one better using cameras instead of mirrors. This may be an improvement in large trucks where visibility using mirrors can be poor to the point that obstacles directly in front and behind the vehicle cannot be seen but for cars it may prove to be a theft opportunity.
Best not to mount a mirror, or indeed a camera, directly in the line of fire of a neighboring car door in the parking lot. Maybe someone should tell them about the practicalities of life?
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Cameras to Replace Mirrors on Cars and Trucks
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(Score: 3, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Thursday January 02 2020, @09:10AM (2 children)
True, but skewed. They'll "know", but they won't use it, because muscle memory, reflex, training, etc.
True story: After having driven truck for a few years, I was given a truck with a half dozen "extra" mirrors on it. Those big stupid chrome things mounted on the leading edges of the front fenders, which supposedly give a view of the pavement right in front of the truck? Useless during travel, they only offer any advantage at very slow speed, maneuvering in parking lots and such. I "knew" that those mirrors were there, but they became invisible. Or worse, they got in the way of my way of looking out at the world.
Likewise with those little bitty windows in the doors, where the passenger's feet would go, if you have a passenger. Again, the only time it might provide any value, is in slow speed maneuvering, trying to back into a difficult dock. Except, it never did provide any value, TBH.
Electronic displays, mounted in random areas that some engineer thought was cool? Those displays really need to be in the same places that grand father drivers expect to find those displays. Put them directly in line with those spots where mirrors used to be. That means using part of the side windows, or the door post where those mirrors used to be. And, THAT is where the engineers will have to use their heads: these new displays can't obstruct the view out of those same windows!!
Alternatively, displays should be mounted above the windows. Something like 270 to 300 degree display above the windows, with the remainder on the windshield, where rear-view mirrors used to be. I could probably get used to that pretty quickly.
But, honestly, I think I'll just be using mirrors for the rest of my life. It's what I'm used to. I can always go buy a frigging mirror, and mount it where I think it should be if I get a car with no mirrors.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 02 2020, @11:28AM (1 child)
Those little bitty windows in the doors, where the passenger's feet would go, if you have a passenger. Again, the only time it might provide any value, is in slow speed maneuvering, trying to back into a difficult dock.
No
The reason they are there is so you can be blamed for crushing shit-head cyclists who are stupid enough to creep up on your inside while you are waiting at junctions.
Hint: if you are a cyclist keep away from 44 ton metal objects which might fail to see you, ESPECIALLY if you have no idea at all about the problems the driver faces with mental and physical workload, while are unwilling to give any clear and meaningful indication of your intentions - and indeed might not have the ability to have intentions. We as truck drivers know full well that, as riders of two wheeled objects, you have the right to be bat-shit crazy and are likely to exercise that right at any time and without warning.
School children should be taught that trucks are more dangerous than angry dragons and cannot easily be bought off with nubile virgins (but its always worth a try ;-)
(Score: 2) by fyngyrz on Thursday January 02 2020, @09:57PM
Virgins are over-rated. Just saying. 😊
--
I wouldn't do anything for a Klondyke bar,
but I'd do some sketchy stuff for pizza.