The New York Times reports that in the next few years, auto manufacturers may look to use low-powered phased-array radar in the back of cars, in combination with enhanced mirror displays, to help reduce accidents related to so-called 'blind-spots.' The system currently under development is a result of a partnership between Valeo, an auto parts supplier, and Raytheon, a military contractor. They note that according to data from the NHTSA, In the last 10 years such (blind-spot) accidents led to 1.5 million injuries and caused more than $360 billion in damage in the United States alone. With an expected cost of around $500 (depending on the configuration), will this low-power radar system from the 1970s really help make driving safer?
New York Times February 2, 2004