Our New “Smart Mirror” Helps Van Drivers See Through Metal

A full load and windowless rear doors mean van drivers often have to rely on their side mirrors. As the familiar bumper stickers say, “If you can’t see my mirrors then I can’t see you!”

To improve visibility for van drivers, we’ve developed a “Smart Mirror” that uses a high-definition camera and screen to give van drivers a wide, clear view of what’s behind them. The new system helps drivers spot cyclists, pedestrians and other vehicles at roundabouts and before changing lanes, turning or merging.

The mirror could be particularly effective for delivery drivers who share city streets with pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooters; these vulnerable road users accounted for 70 per cent of Europe’s road accident fatalities in 2019.¹ Fitting the new mirror to vans could also potentially reduce accident damage and insurance costs, as well as increase “uptime” – the time that vans spend at work rather than being repaired.

1 European Commission data, June 2020. Vulnerable road users include pedestrians, cyclists and powered two-wheelers.

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