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When Your Vehicle’s Blind Spot Becomes A Danger To Children
That area right behind your car or truck is quite hidden from your view as the driver. That is called the vehicle blind zone and it could prove to be fatal to children. This is according to the latest study that Consumer Reports did on vehicles. And just to warn you, the worst vehicle on blind spots is the 2006 Jeep Commander Limited. So if you do own this vehicle, you might to take further caution when driving and when backing up.
So what are the details behind the 2006 Jeep Commander Limited as to why it was declared one of the worst in blind zones? Well, according to Consumer Reports, when they measured the blind zone for the mentioned vehicle, they were able to take note of some 44 feet for its blind zone. That is, if the driver is five feet and eight inches tall. But just imagine if the driver is smaller? That would mean a greater area and range of the blind zone.
Don Mays, the senior director of Consumer Reports on product safety and consumer science, further emphasizes the point of blind spots by stating, “Consumer Reports findings illustrate that the danger of vehicle blind zones correlates with the use of large SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks as common family vehicles. Consumers must be cognizant of this danger – and the value of rearview cameras – when going out to purchase a new vehicle.”
Indeed, the large the blind zone, the greater the chances of the vehicle to accidentally run over small items – from bikes to pets to children. According to a safety group, Kids and Cars, they are able to estimate that more than a hundred children lost their lives because drivers of vehicles could not very well see what was behind the vehicle and in the blind zone. Those are the statistics for deaths but the cases for injuries are greater. Perhaps if only children and bikes are easily replaced like Lincoln Versailles parts, then everything would be much simpler. But this case is not.
Sally Greenberg is Consumers Union’s senior product safety counsel for the area of Washington, DC, and she believes, “Unfortunately, the few vehicles that now come with the technology that enables drivers to see what’s in their blind zones are higher end models, and most devices are available as an extra cost option – often requiring the purchase of other equipment like an expensive navigation system. We believe that backup technologies, such as rearview cameras are essential, and should be a requirement by federal law. Their cost is small compared to the cost of a child’s life. And once this technology becomes standard equipment in vehicles, systems will become more economical for manufacturers to produce.”
About the Author: Pamela Hewitt is marketing consultant of a successful auto body shop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This 39 year old is also a prolific writer, contributing automotive related articles to various publications. She is also an offroad enthusiast.
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