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I noticed several months ago, while driving a rental car (a 2021
Hyundai Elantra, IIRC) that it had some sort of imminent
collision sensor equipped. While accelerating on a two-lane on-
ramp, about to overtake a slower vehicle ahead of me, the
instrument cluster emitted a loud audible tone and
flashed a
message saying something about an imminent collision as I got
dangerously close to the rear bumper of the vehicle I was about
to overtake (I'm not defending my driving style, just being
factual).
It seems to me that something similar on the back of the vehicle
could simply flash some bright red strobes, mounted as close to
the average eye level as possible, to get the attention of a
potentially inattentive driver coming at high speed from behind
within a certain distance. This wouldn't require any equipment
be installed in that vehicle, doesn't depend on them being able
to hear a tone from your vehicle, and should be bright enough
to catch even an inattentive driver's peripheral vision.
CIWS
https://en.wikipedi...se-in_weapon_system [bs0u0155, Mar 05 2022]
[link]
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+ flashing this bun towards you. |
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//instrument cluster// Per JG Ballard (which seems
apropos in the context), the favoured term is "instrument
binnacle" |
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Somebody has to have thought of this no? [+] |
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I've seen those! They were also part of the inspiration for
this idea. |
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I'd think instead of having a light just have a horn
that senses the dangerously fast approaching car
and blasts a horn. |
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The driver is probably looking down anyway,
maybe doing some incredibly important texting,
and the horn would get their attention. |
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This could be something you just attach to the
back of your car, either wired into the electrical
system or even battery powered. It's a system that
would seldom go off like a smoke detector so the
batteries could theoretically last a long time. |
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Could use the light too but seems like a standard
car horn that's the way we get people's attention
would be the way to go no? |
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The only problem with a horn is that, unless it's basically a
semi truck air horn blast, there's a good chance it won't be
heard if the approaching vehicle has the windows up,
music blasting, headphones blocking their ears (illegal but
quite common) or is literally deaf... in which case even the
air horn blast would go unnoticed. |
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So be it, make that sucker blast no? If they're got
headphones and they're looking down and putting
emojis on funny tweets everyone involved is
screwed
anyway. |
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By the way, buy two and put one on the back AND
the
front maybe. Warn somebody about to rear end
you
AND you if you're about to rear end somebody. |
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I've got a name for it too. Call it: |
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The Collision Warning System. (you thought
I was going to try to name it something cute) |
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I need everyone to have this, badly. Maybe I can get Biden to
send all people free lights, for their safety, and maybe
mine...hahaha |
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Agreed, this is absolutely the idea of the week. |
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I feel like the name should somehow work in the word
"Ludicrous". This alludes both to the infamous "Ludicrous
Speed" line from Spaceballs, and the song "Move B*tch". |
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Sad to say I never saw that. Link? |
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Know you dont like the horn idea but a
cheaper version could just tie into the existing
horn. |
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The existing horn, being forward-facing, would be even
less audible to a vehicle approaching from behind and
confuse the crap out of the guy ahead of you! As a tie in
tool, pairing an audible solution WITH the strobe, however,
it could probably work quite well. |
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Of course 20 years from now when all cars are self
driving we'll look back at this and say "Remember
those ideas to keep stupid humans from crashing into
each other back when we actually allowed them to
drive?" (shudder) |
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I'm reminded of a scene from I, Robot when Will Smith's
supervisor, investigating a crash, gives him a disapproving
look as he says it appears he had been driving in manual
mode. |
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Didn't see that either. Gotta watch more movies. |
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Then I see Hollywood's coming out with a 3 hour
Batman remake and say "Nah, I'm good." |
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Spaceballs is a classic. Mel Brooks flick, parodies Star
Trek and Star Wars pretty heavily. I, Robot is based on an
Asimov novel. Both highly appropriate for the HB. |
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*channels 8th for a moment* |
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How about "Collision Imminent Warning System". This would
involve the usual array of sensors and computational logic,
but
coupled to a 4500 rounds per minute M61 Vulcan gatling gun
which would ensure safety by clearing the obstacle from
the
vehicles path. Coincidentally, it shares the acronym CIWS
with
Close In Weapons System <link>. It also shares many of the
same components as it is the same system. |
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The "Warning" component is simply the distinctive sound of
the 20mm gatling gun. If you hear it, the system saved you,
from whatever it was that used to exist in your path. |
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Ahh yes, excellent 8th channeling, bravo! We need
more of that. |
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