The Samsung “Safety Truck” Is A See-Through Revelation

Passing a big, long semi-truck on the open highway is rarely a big deal, but when it comes to being stuck behind one of them on narrow side roads, passing becomes a bit of a game of chicken. Too many drivers have fallen prey to failed passing attempts, and Samsung seeks to eliminate this tragedy-in-waiting forever with its see-through “Safety Truck”, an uninspired name for a great idea.

Given that Samsung is a company best known for its televisions and other electronic technologies, it shouldn’t be surprising that the company used four huge television screens wirelessly linked to front-mounted cameras to provide a clear view of the road ahead. It’s a design automakers have long dreamed of, and it’s finally coming to the road…sort of.

It’s a relatively simple design only feasible due the economics of scale, as rear-mounted cameras become mandated equipment for more and more passenger cars, it’s natural it apply to semi-trucks to. But why stop at rear-mounted cameras? Maybe instead of four screens, just a single screen might suffice, though of course there are plenty of issues that would have to be worked out before a rollout en masse. Yes, it also works at night.

How would these screens hold up to inclimate weather, bad drivers, and the occasional graffiti artist? There’s also costs to take into account, as adding a big screen television to the back of every big truck will literally add thousands to the price, per vehicle. It may also prove a tempting target for thieves looking for an easy score. Qualms and questions aside though, the Samsung Safety Truck is a preview of what the 21st century still has to offer.