Patent ID: 8207835

Claim:
A visual safety system for a vehicle, comprising: a vehicle having a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side; at least a first and a second camera mounted substantially at or near the rear end of the vehicle, the first camera positioned such that it faces traffic approaching the right side of the vehicle substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the vehicle, and the second camera positioned such that it views faces traffic approaching the left side of the vehicle substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the vehicle; the first and second cameras outputting video data to a monitor; the monitor mounted inside a vehicle in a position which allows it to be viewed by the driver; means to detect when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear; and control means to automatically activate the first and second cameras and the monitor when the vehicle is in reverse gear; the monitor having a video data input to receive video data from the first and second cameras and display areas for displaying the video data such that, when backing out the vehicle from a parking space, vehicular traffic approaching the vehicle in a substantially perpendicular direction from the left and/or right side is displayed on the monitor prior to it bein visible via direct line of sight by the driver such that the driver can brake the vehicle prior to having direct visual observation of the oncoming traffic; whereby the vehicle driver is automatically presented with video information about oncoming traffic when the vehicle is in reverse such that a driver can avoid collisions with oncoming traffic when backing out of a parking place by having visual information not directly available by direct observation by the driver.