Could a clear truck save lives?

Driving behind a slow-moving truck on a remote, two-lane road can be annoying. On the one hand, you may want to pass the truck since it may be traveling below the speed limit, or at least below the speed limit, you may want to be driving. On the other hand, you don’t want to end up in a head-on collision with another car while attempting to overtake the truck, since many times the trailer is too large to see other cars coming in the other direction.

If South Korean electronics company Samsung has its way, this safety hazard could be alleviated. According to an ABC News.com report, the company is developing what can be called “see-through” trucks, which will enable drivers to see what is in front of the truck to enable safer passing.

No, the trucks themselves will not be invisible, but they will be equipped with small, front-facing cameras that will project the images of what the truck’s driver can see up ahead. These images would be projected onto the back of the truck, so that drivers following the truck can see the same thing. This way, drivers will be able to see other vehicles coming from the other direction before crossing into the opposite lane.

Right now, there is no established timetable for development in the United States. However, the story is a prime example of why it is important for drivers to use reasonable care while behind the wheel. If a driver fails to use such care and such a failure is found to be the cause of an accident, the offending driver could be held liable for the crash.