American Road Products Introduces ReverseGuard
1 November 1999
American Road Products Introduces ReverseGuard; Patented Safety Product Reduces Accidents While Vehicles are in Reverse Motion
LAS VEGAS--Nov. 1, 1999--American Road Products, a leading manufacturer of safety products for the automotive industry, today unveiled ReverseGuard(TM), the patented safety product designed to reduce reverse-motion accidents.The product resembles a standard license plate frame and is intended to replace the rear license plate frame on most private and commercial vehicles. It is unique, however, because built into its frame are four sensors that use ultrasonic technology to alert the driver of objects behind his vehicle when it is in reverse.
"We realized the need for this product when a friend of ours, who was watching his granddaughter ride her tricycle in front of his home, nearly got hit by a neighbor's car that was backing out of a driveway," said Bill Porter, president of American Road Products. "We also realized that all vehicles have a blind-spot, particularly the popular vans and sport utility vehicles. That means any object within this blind-spot is at risk of being hit by the vehicle backing up. From our beta tests, we have found evidence that this product will significantly reduce the number of reverse-motion accidents."
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), children aged one through four represent six percent of the total U.S. population based on 1995 U.S. Census data, but accounted for 30 percent of all nonoccupants killed in off-road backing crashes.
Off-road crashes are those crashes that occur in locations other than public roads (e.g., private parking lots and residential driveways). Based on data from NCHS for 1992-1993, an average of 116 children were fatally injured in off-road backing crashes and an average 390 fatalities of persons of all ages occur in off-road backing crashes each year.
How it Works
ReverseGuard automatically activates when a driver puts a vehicle in reverse gear. Using four ultrasonic sensors built into the license plate frame, ReverseGuard detects objects in the path of the vehicle up to eight feet. These sensors alert the driver to the object by emitting an intermittent alarm inside the vehicle. As the vehicle moves closer to the object, the alarm alerting the driver sounds more quickly until a steady alarm is heard, indicating the vehicle is within two feet of the object.
Pricing and Availability
ReverseGuard will be offered through automobile dealers across North America. The suggested retail price of ReverseGuard is often less than the deductible incurred in an accident.
About American Road Products
American Road Products is a leading provider of safety products for the automotive industry. The company has headquarters in Santa Ana, Calif. with a branch office in Honolulu, Hawaii. For more information about ReverseGuard, call 888/918-8800.
(c) 1999 American Road Products. ReverseGUARD is a trademark of American Road Products. All other brand names and trademarks are properties of their respective holders.
