Back over accidents occur 50 times every week. A mom or relative “backs over” her own child in her own driveway, often fatally. Why does this happen? Because anybody that drives one of the 70-90+ million SUV’s, minivans, or station wagons sold in the last 15-20 years and on the road now, have a large “blind spot” right behind their vehicle.
The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has determined with these types of vehicles, the driver cannot see the first 15-40+ feet right behind their vehicle which the NHTSA calls “the blind zone” or what most people refer to as their “blind spot”. Congress has now mandated that all new vehicles starting with the 2014 model year must have backup cameras, which is a great idea. However the real problem is all those 70-90 million vehicles already on the road, which have large blind spots and which are causing all these “Back Over” accidents - 50 times every week. Imagine backing over a young child, killing the child, and having to live with that for the rest of your life. Horrific.
Recently, several companies have started to come out with new add-on vehicle safety products which address this rearward vision problem There are back window lenses that show what is in the “blind spot” and add-on blind spot mirrors that also help you see rearward and along the side of any vehicle better. These new add-on vehicle safety devices can almost double a driver’s rearward vision and dramatically reduce and almost eliminate the chances of having one of these horrific “back over” accidents.
Fortunately there are now inexpensive and very effective solutions to fix these problems. These add-on driver’s visual aids are now available at – backupbetter.com, a new company that specializes in vehicle safety products. There are viable alternatives to vehicle backup cameras for vehicles that are already on the road.
Back Up Better Lens
The Back Up Better Lens is a thin, flexible plastic lens that adheres easily with a little water to the rear window of your SUV, minivan, truck or station wagon. It expands your sight far beyond the field of vision normally available through your rear window. By doing so, it enables you to see much more area and objects that would currently be in your blind spots, closer to the rear of the vehicle, down, up, and to the left and right. Professional truckers have used these lenses for years on their cabs side windows to increase their view of cars below their level of vision and outside the views of their mirrors.
When we shot these photos, we were absolutely shocked by how far a child could be from the vehicles and still remain invisible to the driver of. 20 feet, or more!
The Rear View Lens is less than 1/16″ thick and, once applied, is easily repositioned or removed.
Available for:
Small and Mid-Sized Vehicles (Station Wagons, Crossovers, Minvans, Small SUVs)
Large Vehicles (Full-Sized SUVs and Trucks)
Back Up Better Add-On Mirrors
These convex spot Add-On Mirrors attach easily to your vehicle’s driver and passenger side mirrors, greatly increasing your field of view behind and alongside your vehicle, virtually eliminating blind spots. They more than triple your side view.
Back Up Better Add-On Blind Spot Mirrors are all manufactured in tough non-reflective black ABS plastic with a quality reflective mirror surface and attach with weather-resistant Peel & Stick adhesive patches, already applied to the backs. Just clean your mirror with household (Isopropyl) alcohol, then peel and stick. These are inexpensive additions that greatly enhance your vehicle’s Backup and lane changing safety – and give you a lot more comfort and confidence.
Available for:
Small and Mid-Sized Vehicles (Station Wagons, Crossovers, Minvans, Small SUVs)
Large Vehicles (Full-Sized SUVs and Trucks)
The 8 x 10″ Rearview Lens for Small and Mid-Size Vehicles retails for $14.99. The Add-On Blind Spot Mirrors retail for $6.99-$12.99. Both can be purchased on the Back Up Better website.
Win It!
One A Mom’s Take readers will win
Add-On Blind Spot Mirrors
Two A Mom’s Take readers will win a Rearview Lens
Ends 11/9/2012 at 11:59 PM ET. Open to US Only.
- Rules –
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Disclosure: I received a selection of Back Up Better Mirrors in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed above are my own and any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site.