Ford ‘Smart Mirror’ enhances safety in Transit vans

MANILA: Ford unveiled the Smart Mirror, a high-definition screen that shows a panoramic rearview for drivers of Transit Custom and Transit vans.

The full display interior mirror assists drivers in detecting pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles that might be behind them, regardless of partitions or windowless rear doors in the way.

The screen displays a live feed from a camera mounted on the rear of the van, and has automatic brightness control for maximum visibility day and night. 

The system provides a field of view that is twice as wide as a traditional rearview mirror. This aids drivers in being more conscious of their surroundings, for instance, in determining when to turn or merge into side streets, shift directions, or approach roundabouts. 

Director of Commercial Vehicle Aftersales at Ford of Europe Owen Gregory explained, “Providing our drivers with maximum visibility – especially in urban areas where there is so much to look out for – increases their confidence and is a key part of making journeys safer for them, and for other road users as well.” 

The new mirror of the auto brand may be specifically advantageous for delivery drivers who make regular drop-offs in cities since they are more likely to meet people who are riding e-scooters or motorcycles, as well as walking, vulnerable road users, which account for 70% of road fatalities in Europe’s urban locations in 2019. 

Uptime, which refers to the amount of time that commercial vehicles are on the road, can be enhanced through this system and it can also help minimize the need for expensive accident damage repairs. 

Meanwhile, FordLIVE, a new wired uptime system meant to aid in optimizing vehicle uptime, was revealed last week. 

The mirror can only be availed for Ford Transit Custom and Transit vans equipped with windowless rear doors. It is compatible with Transit vans constructed from 2014 and Transit Custom models engineered from 2012. 

Photos from Ford

Also read: Ford aims to be carbon neutral by 2050