Page 13 - News

Vehicle safety regulations have changed. Below is a demonstration from the 2017 NTEA Work Truck Show of compliance to the FMVSS 111 law. The new law states a necessary view behind a vehicle. This standard must be in effect starting May 2018 and will require all vehicles under 10,000 pounds to adhere to a certain field of view behind the vehicle. In vehicles with limited rear vision, installation of a backup camera which provides the necessary rear view will be mandatory.

FMVSS 111 Compliance

All Rear View Safety cameras comply with FMVSS 111. The video, a test to see if a vehicle conforms to...

Thousands of industry professionals will come together in Indianapolis, Indiana this week for the 2017 NTEA Work Truck Show. We can't wait to show you all the new products and innovations for 2017 and beyond.

2017 NTEA Work Truck Show

Rear View Safety will debut five new products at the show, including The RVS-718-FLML G-Series Rear View Frameless Mirror Monitor With 4.3" Mirrorlink Display. This touchscreen system is equipped with a 4.3" display placed to the left of the mirror. The entire surface is reflective and acts as a mirror. The RVS-718-FLML also features mirrorlink, allowing you...

I live down the block from the Brooklyn Tesla Motors showroom. It's fun to see the futuristic cars zipping around my neighborhood. I was very excited to help with this podcast. I've never ridden in one, but hope to take a test drive soon.

Tesla Motors Club Forum

In the podcast below we interview Andy Wallenstein, a member of the Tesla Motors Club forum. We speak about what makes Tesla special and the benefits of a dash camera.

As a member of the forum since 2014, Andy is active in assisting other Tesla owners and has worked with RVS on creating a group deal on a Blackvue dash camera for Tesla...

We live in a connected age. Every morning I play morning news on my Apple TV through my iPhone. I check my train status as I drink my morning coffee, which is on a timer. Rear View Safety's new mirrorlink technology is integrating connectivity into the auto safety solution industry.

 The Power Of Mirrorlink

The beauty of mirrolink technology is how seamlessly and effortlessly it works. You don't need a pre-existing WiFi or internet connection. The monitor creates a mirrorlink WiFi network. Navigate your trip, select and listen to music, play games on your monitor, or browse the web, all with...

Can you feel it in the air? The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and everything is a bit greener. That's right, it's almost trade show season! Oh, also spring is coming. Our show season kicks off March 15-17th at the 2017 NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, IN. The NTEA is an annual trade show where traders display their best work trucks and work truck equipment. The show even has an app!

New For 2017

We will be showcasing new products in Indiana. Here's a sneak peak of a few.

Our new wireless system the RVS-155W Wireless Backup Camera...

How many bridges do you cross every day? According to a new report from the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) just over 9% of bridges nationwide are "structurally deficient."

The organization have created an interactive map showing info on each state and which bridges are deficient or sufficient. You can also toggle to a congressional district map. The map also shows proposed bridge work, how many daily crossings a bridge has and other interesting information. How does your state rank?

Don't change your spring road trip route just yet. A "Structurally deficient" grade...

While walking to work today I saw a cyclist hit a hidden patch of ice and fall onto the street. I quickly ran over to see if he was ok, and luckily he seemed alright. A bit shaken, but alright. He didn’t have a helmet on, but caught himself on his hands before his head hit the cement. Thankfully no cars were coming. He was riding on a pretty busy street. It got me thinking about safety laws.

“I should be wearing a helmet, but I left it at work and I’m not going very far. I’ll slow down,” he assured me before zipping down Van Brunt St.

Of course, he should wear a helmet. Everyone should wear a helmet...

It's pretty well known that the hardest part of any installation is running cabling through the vehicle. Using a wireless system literally cuts our install time in half. We offer a variety of wireless systems to fit any need.

Go Wireless

The RVS-091406 Wireless Backup Camera System With Cigarette Lighter Adaptor was rated as the number one backup camera by TopTenReviews for 2016. The 4.3” monitor connects straight to the cigarette lighter and also comes with a suction cup for easy mounting. The digital wireless connection guarantees no interference for a whopping 70ft. The camera has an ultra-wide...

Seems like a sign of the times. Crash test dummies are getting a redesign after being introduced over 50 years ago. Based on the advice of University of Michigan trauma experts, engineers at Humanetics have created two new dummy prototypes to reflect today's drivers.

The male prototype is 106 pounds heavier than the original model. Also obese, the female is based on a 70-year-old woman. The new designs have a higher body mass index than previous models. ICAM will be able to 3D print the prototypes once they're finished.

Highlighting Dangers of Obesity With Crash Test Dummies

The models are supposed...

Trucks are getting bigger and bigger. It's getting harder and harder to get into the cargo bed. Ford addressed this problem with the 2009 F-150 slide out tailgate step. Chevy, who poked fun at the time, were just granted a patent for a similar device.

"The mounting system supports the handle portion about both a first axis and a second axis. The handle portion rotates about the first axis to move between the stowed position and the intermediate position to position the handle portion outside an interior space of the structure." states the patent.

So, the tailgate folds down and a handle locks...

Today on my morning commute, I had the opportunity to help someone. I noticed a man in a motorized wheelchair having some trouble getting his chair onto the train. Another commuter and I asked if he wanted assistance and we lifted his wheels and helped him onto the train. What kind of access do people with disabilities to public transportation? While the Americans With Disabilities Act mandates access to public transportation, it has its shortcomings, especially in certain parts of the country. A recent study indicates that self-driving cars are a viable solution for Americans with disabilities...

I have weather alerts set up for 3 places. New York, where I live, Topeka, where my parents live, and the Bay Area, where 2 of brothers live with their families.

It's been an interesting week. The Bay Area is officially not in a drought after a drought monitor issued Thursday. Powerful storms in the area have caused at least 40% of the state to enter a drought.

Even though it's still winter, yesterday in New York it was around 70°. It was so amazing. I wore a t-shirt in January. Then there's Jupiter.

Winter Storm Jupiter

Winter storm Jupiter is a huge multi-day ice storm that is expected to cut...

SB 1072, commonly called the "Paul Lee School Bus Safety Law",  went into effect at the start of 2017. The bill was drafted in response to the 2015 tragic death of 19-year-old Hun Joon "Paul" Lee. Paul Lee was a student with severe autism, who died after being locked inside a parked school bus.

The law states that all school buses, car motor vehicles, and youth buses must be outfitted with special alert systems. An audible alarm starts when the required technology generates an audible alarm when the ignition is turned off. The driver must walk to the rear of the bus to turn off the alarm. This...

I received a bunch of texts early Wednesday morning. They were from friends and family checking if I was alright. I was commuting to work at the time, and received the text and alerts about the horrible LIRR crash when I got off my A train stop, about 3 miles from the crash. Thankfully no one was killed, but more than 100 people were injured when a train failed to stop and hit a bumping block in the Atlantic terminal. The train was reportedly traveling 10 mph, nearly double the speed limit for approaching trains. They also indicate that the engineer may have been suffering from sleep apnea.

Sleep...

I don't fly that often. Maybe once a year to visit home. I usually pick a super early flight and just sleep the entire way. No problem. That's why I was initially confused when I read a headline that the government may soon allow Wi-Fi connected phone calls on flights. Why would you need to make a call on an airplane? I've used Wi-Fi on a plane, but never lamented that I can't make a call while in the air. I ride the bus nearly every day, and it's very annoying when someone is on the phone. Someone is always on the phone.

After reading the story, the reason became obvious. It's for work. If you...

I wake up pretty early. Depending on when I go to bed (thanks a lot, Netflix) I usually get out of bed between 5 AM and 6 AM, sometimes even earlier. Every morning I check the weather by looking out my window. I live across the street from a very busy coffee shop and a police prescient. A lot of trucks and buses are stored in my neighborhood. No matter what time I look out the window, the coffee shop is full of drivers, fueling up for their morning rides. It's still full with another group when I start walking to my bus around 7:30. It's important to step back and say thank you.

So Many To Thank...

2016 has been the year we talk a lot about autonomous vehicles. A lot has happened this year. Google created Waymo, a self-driving vehicle company under the Alphabet umbrella. MIT designed a mini city for testing, and GM is testing on public roads in Michigan. Self-driving Ubers (with a driver for emergencies) are being tested in Pittsburgh as I type this.

Playing By The Rules

A few days ago Uber expanded this testing to San Francisco, but with some changes. The cars used in California are EX90 SUVS, the result of a collaboration with Volvo, who does not have a permit for self-driving cars from...