[Quietcars] Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act

Tue Dec 14 01:58:46 UTC 2010

Dear Bob,

I have not had time to read the document as yet,but I want you to know that 
I am not opposed the back up cameras at all.
I just feel that there are some other measures , such as an audible beeper 
and flashing of the rear lights that should also be added to the mix.
It is impossible to anticipate all of the situations and combinations of 
which are possible.
Frankly, nothing is 100% fool proof.  I know as my work in both aerospace 
and Nuclear power has shown me.
Someone out there is ahead of us and inventing better and better fools every 
day.
I guess that if we could think of everything that could, might, should, has 
or will happen, then we would have done it already.  We would not be having 
these conversations.
I believe that it is a very long process and it will never be perfect or 
even finished.  Until then we just go on and keep doing the best we each can 
to make it all work out right in the end.
Maybe when A.I. gets to the point that our cars are self aware and know and 
keep track of everything around them and know just what every other vehicle 
or driver is planning to do and is trying to do, cars will be safer.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Wilson" <bwilson4web at hotmail.com>
To: <quietcars at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2010 2:27 AM
Subject: Re: [Quietcars] Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act

Hi David,
Sorry, I did not realize the browser would substitute the name of the PDF 
instead of leaving the link:
http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/contentStreamer?objectId=0900006480bb0c4b&disposition=attachment&contentType=pdf
It took a while to read the 65 page report but it gave some insights to what 
happens in the backover accidents that relate to your close calls. It also 
addressed adding "an audible warning sound. . ." on page 54:
"Given the very young age of most of the children fatally-injured in 
backover crashes, attempting to provide them with training relevant to the 
particular circumstances of those crashes or with an audible warning would 
not enable them to identify or take steps to protect themselves, given their 
impulsiveness, their lack of understanding of the abstract concept of 
risk/danger/safety, and their lack of situational awareness, judgment and 
physical ability (e.g., dexterity) to take timely and effective 
self-protective action.
Given the impossibility of reducing backover crashes through changing the 
behavior of very young children and given Congress’ mandate, it is 
reasonable and necessary to rely on vehicle technology to address backover 
crashes . . ."
My new understanding of backing accidents comes from the analysis of the 
three mirrors: driver side, rear view, and passenger side on pages 32 and 
33. The vehicle mirror standard requires a flat, driver side mirror but this 
only provides 4 to 5 feet of coverage to one side of the car at the distance 
of a sidewalk. A pedestrian can cover that distance and be behind the car in 
two steps. Not mentioned in the report, these three mirrors can not be seen 
at the same time while backing out.
One mirror is to the very left near the driver left forearm. The rear view 
mirror is center to the upper right and the passenger side mirror lower near 
the front of the passenger door. Looking at any one mirror, the other two 
are momentarily not seen. The driver has to move their head from the left 
side, to center, to right side leaving the other two, momentarily unused. 
This blank-out period becomes even longer if the driver sees something in 
one mirror that needs attention, say a car parked very close. This head 
rocking motion is even harder for older drivers with joint problems or 
wearing progressive lense glasses that further narrow the field of view. In 
contrast, the proposed 130 degree, review camera provides both left, right 
and rear coverage in one glance without side-to-side head rocking.
I was not there when you had your close calls and incident. However, the 
driver overload trying to backup using these three mirrors makes such 
accidents likely. Yes, we are all taught to turn around and look to the rear 
however that training comes from a time of bench seats before head rests 
were made standard . . . and we were younger and more agile. Regardless, the 
report assumes use of these mirrors when backing up and reveals the 
problems. Bob Wilson

> From: drevans at bellsouth.net
> To: quietcars at nfbnet.org
> Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2010 11:15:43 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Quietcars] Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act
>
>
> Dear All,
>
> I do believe that cameras are a good idea, but I think that an audible
> warning sound should also be mandatory as well and is a less costly and
> easier fix that can be applied to all vehicles even now.  It only requires
> and electronic beeper, some wire and a contact switch that makes contact
> when ever the shift lever is placed in reverse.  It could even just be
> placed in the same electrical circuit with the back-up lights.
> In the last 2 years, I personally have had 3 incidents where "quiet cars"
> have nearly backed over me and one did strike me to the point that I had 
> to
> drop my white cane and jump upon the rear of the car to keep from being 
> run
> down.  My cane was sticking out in front of the car by the time the driver
> stopped the car from my beating on the back window.
>
> The cameras will warn the driver, if they are watching and paying 
> attention,
> but an audible warning beeper, will take care of the other side of the 
> coin
> and warn people like me that a car is moving.
> I think that the problem will not be solved as best as it can be until we
> address both sides of the coin.
> There will, I am afraid, still be accidents as drivers will still be
> careless, as well as pedestrians will be careless or distracted or unable 
> to
> react in time.
> I also think that along with an audible beeper sound device that the rear
> lights should also "flash" on and off with the beeper to warn those who 
> are
> deaf or hard of hearing and also warn approaching other drivers that the
> vehicle is backing up.
> If we do all of this, I believe that we will have done all we can
> reasonablely do to fix the situation until cars become more autonomist and
> take over more of the driving functions and have "self awareness" of the
> environment around them.
> I know as a engineer and futurist that this will happen in the not too
> distant future.
>   Then things will be safer for all of us.
>
> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
> Nuclear/Aerospace Materials Engineer
> Builder of the Lunar Rovers and the F-117 Stealth Fighter.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "michael townsend" <mrtownsend at optonline.net>
> To: "'Discussion of new quiet cars and pedestrian safety'"
> <quietcars at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 8:01 AM
> Subject: Re: [Quietcars] Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act
>
>
> > Once again another excellent post; not necessarily aimed at our 
> > audience,
> > but a more universal one, and we could all benefit greatly.  Thanks, 
> > Bob.
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: quietcars-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:quietcars-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> > On
> > Behalf Of Robert Wilson
> > Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 5:27 AM
> > To: quietcars at nfbnet.org
> > Subject: [Quietcars] Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act
> >
> >
> > A week before the June 23, 2008 hearing, I first learned about the
> > back-over
> > problem. Today, I came across the welcome result:
> > http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/li-boy-s-death-may-mean-cameras-in
> > -all-cars-1.2527253
> > * * * quoting from the article * * *
> > Greg Gulbransen thought at first that maybe he'd backed over the
> > newspaper.
> > The pediatrician had gone out at night to flip his BMW SUV around so 
> > that
> > he
> > wouldn't have to back out of his driveway in the morning when kids were
> > headed to school. As he continued in reverse, his headlights lit up a
> > scene
> > that would change his life forever.
> > Gulbransen's son Cameron, 2, lay sprawled in the driveway. He had on 
> > blue
> > pajamas, was holding a blanket and was bleeding heavily from his head.. 
> > .
> > .
> > "That's when life ended pretty much as I knew it," Gulbransen said
> > Wednesday. "Complete and utter devastation. I still can't believe it
> > happened."
> > Now, eight years after the October night in Woodbury when Gulbransen
> > accidentally killed his son, the federal government is taking comment on 
> > a
> > key provision of the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act
> > that's meant to prevent such tragedies.
> > After the 60-day comment period, announced Friday by the National 
> > Highway
> > Traffic Safety Administration, automakers will be required to eliminate
> > blind zones behind vehicles that can contribute to deaths like 
> > Cameron's.
> > In
> > practice, that means automakers will have to outfit new vehicles with
> > monitors that display to those driving in reverse a live image of the
> > blind
> > zone. Such rearview cameras are already found in some luxury models.. .
> > .Ten
> > percent of new vehicles must meet the requirement by September 2012 and
> > 100
> > percent by September 2014. The federal government estimates that the 
> > move
> > will cost the auto industry as much as $2.7 billion and individual car
> > purchasers an extra $159 to $203 per vehicle.
> > Federal safety regulators estimate that in an average year, 292 people 
> > are
> > killed and 18,000 injuries occur due to back-over crashes. Some 228 of
> > those
> > fatalities involve common passenger vehicles, regulators estimate, with 
> > 44
> > percent of those deaths being children under 5 and 33 percent adults 
> > over
> > 70.
> > * * * end quote * * *
> > This safety legislation received near universal support because it 
> > applies
> > an effective solution to a well documented and too often fatal problem. 
> > It
> > is timely because rear view mirrors are losing their effectiveness as
> > tougher roll-over safety rules require stronger roofs that further 
> > obscure
> > visibility. SUVs and pickup trucks are a particular hazard because their
> > higher than normal body style and lengths lead to especially poor
> > visibility. But no car or vehicle is immune.
> > Universal backup cameras make a lot of sense which due to economies of
> > scale
> > will become much more affordable. This is the application of new, video
> > technology to replace the century old, and barely adequate mirrors.
> > Bob Wilson
> > _______________________________________________
> > Quietcars mailing list
> > Quietcars at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/quietcars_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > Quietcars:
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/quietcars_nfbnet.org/mrtownsend%40opto
> > nline.net
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Quietcars mailing list
> > Quietcars at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/quietcars_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > Quietcars:
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/quietcars_nfbnet.org/drevans%40bellsouth.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Quietcars mailing list
> Quietcars at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/quietcars_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Quietcars:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/quietcars_nfbnet.org/bwilson4web%40hotmail.com

_______________________________________________
Quietcars mailing list
Quietcars at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/quietcars_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Quietcars:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/quietcars_nfbnet.org/drevans%40bellsouth.net 