What a fantastic concept, "see through trucks"

Hi All,
Does this mean Truck and Car drivers will need TV licences in the UK now…..:D

Geoff.

The distance figures will mean little and add to distraction. Drivers do not compute distance figures in their minds when overtaking, they simply judge whether the space available is sufficient.

The estimate of the speed of the approaching vehicle is crucial and has to be taken into account and this cannot be measured into any information displayed.

Knowing the cameras fixed distance you would be able to project fixed distance lines onto the screens to help that.

That’s a good point about drivers judgement.

It raises another issue, that of depth perception; depth perception is nowhere near as good when using the image reproduced by a TV screen. I would say that distance judgement, distance judgement derived from depth perception, and the rate of change of distance, are the real areas where a driver’s judgement is critical in overtaking.

Cracking idea. Agree with Charlie that it doesn’t take the stupid and error element out of the humans making the decisions but it does help with the decision making process by providing additional information.

Well it wouldn’t work in the USA, they’d want a commercial break every 5 minutes

I assumed the vehicle would have operating brake lights as the legal requirement, but of course your eyes will not be drawn to them because you’d be watching the screens….and it doesn’t deal with my other reservations, anyway.

Brake issue is easily sorted, simply flash up across the screen the word BRAKE when the driver of the truck applies his.

I can see some advantage but it will not have any affect on what I suspect is the main problem – driver’s judgement. If you poke your nose out and there is something close you either hit it or tuck back in time. If there is nothing within some hundred yards you then have to make the decision – go or not go. You have to make the same decision using the screens. A vehicle passes and then the road is clear or is it clear enough? That is down to the driver’s judgment. Potentially interesting but I wonder how much of a difference it will make in reality. And this notwithstanding the doubts previously expressed.

Interesting concept!

I’d be a little worried as to the ‘hypnotic’ effect TV screens have on some people. While watching the ‘TV’ would the driver notice if the truck suddenly braked?

Edit: seems I’m not the only one concerned about this.

Well, I did think there might be a danger of following drivers getting distracted by the pictures and not noticing that the vehicle in front was slowing down/stopping. But looking at the film I have to say, yes……amazing idea. Would love to see it trialled over here!