Vehicle proximity warning apparatus and systems,and methods of warning of the proximity of two vehicles

摘要

A vehicle proximity warning device 10 comprising a speed and distance sensor (11, fig 2), a processor (12, fig2) and a transmitter (13, fig 2) for communicating with a display (14, fig 2) suitable for alerting a driver to the proximity of two vehicles. The transmission of warning signals to the display is dependent on the measured distance between the two vehicles and their relative speed of travel. When the distance between the vehicles is deemed to be unsafe, a warning signal is transmitted to the display (14, fig 2) so as to warn the driver of at least one of the vehicles to the proximity of the two vehicles. The device may optionally be mounted on a surface of a first vehicle such that it faces outwardly from its rear. Warning signals issued from the display (14, fig 2) may be displayed to the driver of the first, second or both vehicles. The device may also optionally include a camera (15, fig 3) for recording images when an unsafe vehicle separation distance is determined.