On Britain's crowded roads, accidents caused by blind spots are increasingly a danger. That's why Volvo is offering drivers an innovative solution to the issue with its new safety system, called BLIS (Blind Spot Information System).
Using a digital camera system mounted into both door mirrors, the BLIS safety system monitors the area to each side of the car, sensing the presence of motorcycles, cyclists or other vehicles, and alerting the driver to them via an orange light on the a-pillar near the door mirror.
It's a particularly useful system in multi-lane traffic, where speeds can be closely matched and it's easy for other road users to become hidden from immediate view.
And although the system doesn't relieve the driver of his or her obligation to perform a visual check, it affords an extra level of protection.
BLIS can tell the difference between moving and stationary objects such as parked cars, road signs and bollards, alerting the driver only to moving obstacles. The system even works at night, by reacting to the headlights of surrounding vehicles.
The BLIS system was first seen on Volvo's Safety Concept Car in 2001, and is now available as an option on Volvo's flagship XC90 sport utility vehicle; at £450 on SE models, and £600 on S models. BLIS will be available on other models in the Volvo range from mid 2006.
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