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Samsung 'Safety Truck' Uses Rear Displays to Prevent Collisions

 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

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Getting stuck behind a slow-moving truck on a one-lane road is never fun. You can't see what's ahead, you're choking on fumes, and moving at a snail's pace. You could pass the truck, but is there enough room?

Samsung's "Safety Truck" might be the solution. It uses a wireless camera on the truck's front grille, which connects to four displays on the rear of the truck. Vehicles behind the truck can see if another car is approaching (even in the dark), and pass the truck when the coast is clear.

Samsung tested its Safety Truck in Argentina, where "statistics on traffic accidents are among the highest in the world, with most of these accidents occurring on two-lane roads and particularly in situations of overtaking," Samsung said.

Nextcar Bug artCurrently, there are no plans to deploy the technology on Samsung trucks or anywhere else. "So far Samsung has been able to confirm that the technology works and that this idea can definitely save the lives of many people," Samsung said.

"The next step is to perform the corresponding tests in order to comply with the existing national protocols and obtain the necessary permits and approvals," it said. "For this, Samsung is working together with safe driving NGOs and the government."

There is, of course, always the possibility that people would get distracted and/or confused by the truck's rear panels. Still, the technology, Samsung said, "seeks to enrich the lives of people through innovation. But more than that, this time the goal is more ambitious: to save lives."

If Samsung partners with Daimler, perhaps we could have a self-driving Safety Truck on the road one day. Last month, Daimler Trucks earned a road license for its autonomous heavy-duty truck. The Freightliner Inspiration Truck took its first journey in May, carrying Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and Daimler AG board member Wolfgang Bernhard along U.S. Highway 15 in Las Vegas.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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