5 Reasons Why You Should Choose A Commercial Vehicle Blind Spot Detection System?
Driving commercial vehicles can be stressful, right? Not only do the drivers have to manage their hectic routine, but they also need to be very careful when driving around other vehicles. The drivers often miss the objects around them, even after adjusting their mirrors. The large blind spots around the commercial vehicles are the major cause of it.
But how can we eliminate this problem? How a commercial vehicle blind spot detection system can be advantageous in such cases?
How Does It Increase Safety On The Road?
Every vehicle has blind spots. Some have blind spots that can be manageable with extra attention. But, this is quite opposite for the Commercial vehicles. Even after paying extra attention, it is difficult to see through these blind spots.
Most truck accidents happen due to these blind spots that result in a collision with other vehicles. Some of these dangerous blind spots are as follows;
- Directly in front of the truck engine, roughly stretching across 20 feet in front of the vehicle.
- Behind the truck, approximately extending by 30 feet.
- The right side of the trucks, prolonging through several lanes.
- The left side of trucks, particularly the blind spots adjacent to the left lane.
To reduce these accidents to their nominal, a commercial vehicle Blind spot detection system comes into play. It is an advanced driving assistance system that detects any object or vehicle within its monitoring area. It likewise helps to reduce the collision with other passing motor vehicles.
This commercial vehicle blind spot detection system alerts the driver of the vehicles adjacent to the lane when the drivers indicate their intention of changing lanes. The radar mounts on either side of the mirror alert the driver by blinking red or yellow light. A sound system is also installed in the truck to warn the driver of the potential danger if they overlooked the visual signal.
This technological assistance proves to be beneficial to both the drivers and the passengers. On one side, it gives extra pair of eyes to the drivers, assisting them to fetch a clear view of the vehicle. On the other side, the passer-by can also feel safe traveling, on the road, around trucks and trailers.
Why Is There An Increase In Demand For Safety Solution For Vehicles?
The use of commercial trucks has increased immensely with the ongoing changes in trading methods across the market globally. Boost in the e-commerce industry results in more use of Lorries and trucks to deliver goods to the warehouses than before. In 2021, retail e-commerce sales amounted to approximately 4.9 trillion U.S. dollars worldwide. This figure is forecast to grow by 50 percent over the next four years, reaching about 7.4 trillion dollars by 2025.
That results in the more accelerating use of commercial trucks than ever before. The government is also imposing regulations on the automotive industry to use blind-spot detection systems in vehicles.
With time, consumers’ incomes are rising, and more information is circulating about safety precautions. That results in the demand for these commercial vehicle blind spot detection systems booming. Numerous Truck companies are installing these advanced driving assistance systems in their trucks. In some cases, it also results in a fall in commercial vehicle insurance costs due to a fall in any costly damage.
Due to these factors and with improvement in CSA compliance, the growth of this market is unavoidable. The market for commercial vehicle blind spot detection systems will grow by 961.74 million units between 2022-2026. That will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period.
The blind-spot detection systems market is also going through many changes. Many companies like Ford, Nissan, and Toyota are also contesting in offering improved solutions. This result in the improvement in research, especially for aiding commercial vehicles.
Several countries are also contributing to this market. Japan commences this at the Consumer Electronics show in 2020 by PandarQtat. The US and the European counties have also started to collaborate on blind-spot detection systems designs. This results in furnishing innovative solutions for consumer safety on the roads.
Due to these ongoing developments across the globe, the market would expand to the value of USD 16.6 billion by the end of 2031.
How Does It Help To Reduce Stress For Drivers?
Driving a long and heavy vehicle can be stressful for many drivers, especially when you have other responsibilities. Meeting the deadline of delivery time, being on the road for several days in a row, and not being with your family for a long time are exhausting. Consequently, many road accidents occur due to this weariness and tiredness from those prolonged journeys.
According to the Federal Motor Safety Administration (FMCSA), most road accidents happen due to the drivers of commercial vehicles. Those truck drivers blame fatigue as the reason for these sorrowful incidents.
To prevent it from happening, a commercial vehicle blind spot detection system comes to aid. This technology assists the drivers by alerting them of the possible vehicles around them that they cannot see. It can be due to the blind spots or simply because of their lack of focus.
The visual warnings can be in the form of blinking lights or chiming sounds to redirect the focus of the driver. When it detects any danger, it also applies brakes, vibrates the steering wheel, and prevents it from turning in the direction of the hazard.
Some models of Honda also provide visual images to the driver with the help of small cameras. This way the drivers do not have their move their eyes from the road to cross-check the notification on the radar.
Thus, this assistance proves miraculous for the drives of heavy vehicles and travelers as well. According to the Insurance Institute for highway safety, the use of blind-spot monitors has resulted in a decrease in lane-change fatalities by 14% and lane-change accident injuries by 25%.
What Are Some Of The Flaws With The Warning Signs?
- These visual signs indicated by the blind spot monitor may not be effective; if the vehicle is either too slow or at a phenomenal speed. Nevertheless, it is still significant to know that each system has different detection and operating capacity.
- Some systems can only detect highway vehicles. That means that these systems would not work best amongst bicycles, humans, and animals. Whereas some systems could only detect a vehicle under a specific threshold, usually around 5 km/h to 20 km/h. In these situations dependence on them might not be a good idea.
- Another issue is that the visual warning light is small in size, and due to sharp lighting, the drivers are unable to detect them from the side-view mirror. However, the latest blind spot detection system comes with bigger radar that could give a clear visual to the driver of any hazard.
- The audio warning system is only effective if the driver commands his intention of changing lanes to the monitoring system, by switching on the indicators. However, most drivers don’t follow this practice. This result in them losing out on any possibility of fetching premature signs of the danger.
Yet, the automotive blind spot detection system for commercial vehicles is improving with the passing time. The number of vendors and investment in R&D by key manufacturers is rising rapidly. That proves to be a development phase for the blind spot detection system market. By 2027 the market would enlarge by 6.06 billion dollars with a CAGR of 9.2%, as indicated by the reports.
How Is It Cost-Effective For Drivers?
These systems are becoming cost-effective for many consumers. That is due to the development in the production methods of the blind-spot monitoring system.
The cost of installation of these systems on large vehicles can fit under $10,000. The capacity of these blind-spot monitoring systems is more reliable and accurate than other ranges of designs. The advanced internal algorithm deters false alarm triggering and monitors a broader area. The visual and audio warnings are also enhanced in quality to ensure that the drivers detect the signal without any exertion. This system also comes with an improved lens for the camera in terms of durability and visibility. The upgraded algorithm also prevents extreme weather to alter the accuracy of the system.
Still, this cost is lower than the cost that occurs after road accidents. Commercial vehicles are expensive and cost more than $100,000. The repair cost is also high, which is not fully compensated by the insurance companies, most of the time. Moreover, any fatality or other collateral damage can also result in attorney expenses, which are far more costly. So, a small investment is far more promising as it could not only save you hundreds and thousands of dollars, but it will prevent any risk to human lives.
How Its Easy Installation Attracts More People To Buy It?
With the continuous development of this system, the manufacturers are launching user-friendly systems. It would allow the consumers to install these systems by themselves without any difficulty. Some of these systems are factory installed, whereas others came as kits. That proves more convenient for the self-doer consumers who can install them effortlessly while reading the user manual.
1. Factory-Installed Systems
The manufacturers install these types of systems on specific models of vehicles. Some may provide this service free of cost, but usually, you have to pay for them. Companies like Ford, Nissan, and Toyota usually offer these systems in heavy and expensive vehicles. Due to this, these systems are only suitable for new vehicle models.
- Aftermarket Systems
Many aftermarket blind-spot detection systems are universal. That means users do not have to worry about the vehicle model and age. There are a lot of kits available in the market that could guide users throughout the installation process. These systems are also easy to use, without any complicated operation processes for the drivers. Still, it is better to research the features of the blind spot detection system before purchasing them so that they would be as per your vehicle’s features.
TIPS FOR USING A BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM
1. CLEAN THE CAMERAS OF THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM
It is crucial to wipe off any dust, water, or snow before using these systems, as extreme weather is one of the reasons that affect the quality of the system. Therefore, the drivers should examine the camera lenses as part of their routine check before continuing their journey on the road.
2. Check your vehicle manual setup
You need to confirm that the system is active before driving on the road. Knowing about your blind spot detection system’s features is crucial, so it is advisable to check the user manual. This way, you would have a fair idea of things that trigger the system and things that it is unable to expose. For example, if your monitor can not detect a slowly moving vehicle, you need to pay extra attention to those situations. So next time, when you drive in the city areas, drive slowly and carefully. That may allow you to distinguish small objects around the vehicle. If you cannot see them, the other vehicles could make necessary decisions on time to move away from your way.
3. Monitoring your blind spot detection system performance
It is a good idea to consult with a professional before getting these systems for your vehicle. Although many of these systems are universals, it is better to consider their functions carefully. Ideally, there are three types of technologies that blind spot detection system utilizes.
1. Radar-based system
Millimeter wave radar technology is installed in these types of systems, and it is highly popular in the blind spot monitors market. The radar waves are easily adaptable to the environment, reflecting the waves to the vehicle after striking any object. Rather than drillings on the bumper, the radar-based system is usually installed behind the bumper securely. The LED lights on the A-pillar and a small speaker in the vehicle make it easy to alert the driver.
There are three ranges of automotive radar-based systems.
The long-range radars range between 10-250 meters, allowing a more wide view of the vehicle. The medium-range radars have a range between 1-60. It would allow the vehicle to maintain a safer distance from other motor vehicles and be able to drive on the same line. The small range radars have a range between 0.5-20 meters, allowing them to help the driver, especially in the parking of the vehicle.
2. Camera-based system
These types of systems use compact video cameras mounted on each side of rear view cameras. Whenever the camera detects an object, it presents its visual image to the driver on the dashboard. This awareness enables the drivers to make proper decisions without moving their eyes from the road to see the reason for the alert signal.
These advanced camera-based systems are in the second position in the market for blind-spot detection systems. The CMOS-based camera sensors are more cost-effective than conventional charge-coupled device cameras (CCD). The CMOS sensors produce high-quality images using lesser powers. Moreover, CCD cameras are more advanced in coping with extreme weather such as snow, dust, and rain.
3. Ultrasonic-based system
This class of systems emits sound waves caught after the detection of the vehicle. The data recorded by the system anticipate the distance between the truck and the motor vehicle. Then, the signals alert the driver of the proximity. However, its precision is the factor that hinders the growth of this technology.
4. Activating the blind spot detection system
The blind-spot monitoring system does not work if it is not activated. Drivers become less focused because they think the blind spot detection system is looking after the blind spots. This situation becomes worst as the system is not activated, so the truck is more prone to danger than before. To avoid such incidents, it is crucial to initiate these systems every single time to get benefits from this technology.
Conclusion
The most common question asked by any consumer of the blind spot detection system is, “Are they actually worth it?”
There is no forward answer to this question. It provides tremendous help to its users by operating as an extra pair of eyes that looks all over the vehicle. This advanced driving assistance system is more significant to commercial vehicles due to their sizes. The visibility of the vehicle is a vital factor that consumers need to consider. Heavy vehicles are difficult to drive, not only due to the blind spots, but they are difficult to maneuver and take more time to halt than other vehicles. They may have large windows to help them see their surroundings. Yet, it is dangerous to move your eyes from the road. Thus, these assistance systems could prove beneficial in the prevention of road accidents.
However, it is still essential for drivers to never rely on technology alone. Regular drive check such as checking the positions of the mirrors and using indicators is also crucial. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the surrounding vehicles as well. Therefore, the drivers should use the commercial vehicle blind spot detection systems only as additional support but, also to do traditional checks before going on the road.
