The tragic reality is that road fatalities in South Africa have become a part of daily life, with over 14,000 people dying each year. The leading cause of accidents? Objects in drivers’ blind spots. From motorbikes to cyclists, delivery drivers, and overtaking vehicles, countless lives have been lost due to the inability to see these hazards.
But Volkswagen isn’t turning a blind eye to this issue. In honour of Motorcycle Awareness Month, Volkswagen has launched a ground-breaking campaign that aims to tackle this problem head-on. With their innovative IQ.DRIVE Blind Spot Monitoring feature, Volkswagen is revolutionizing the way South Africans drive by giving drivers an extra pair of eyes.
The IQ.DRIVE Blind Spot Monitoring feature is a high-tech radar system that uses a lighting display on the side mirror to alert drivers to potential hazards that they might not otherwise see. But Volkswagen’s safety commitment doesn’t stop there. Through a series of powerful “invisible” life-size installations showcased in selected Volkswagen Dealers and public locations, that feature objects commonly found, or rather missed, in a driver’s blind spot. The objects inside each installation, upon initial inspection, are “invisible”, as they are undefinable painted in Black 3.0 against black darkness, but when onlookers scan the installation using an Augmented Reality (AR) filter the actual object in front of them is revealed, highlighting not only the dangers of the blind spot but the benefits of Volkswagen’s Blind Spot Monitoring system, together with other IQ.DRIVE features.
“As leaders in the automotive industry, we cannot simply ignore the dangers on our roads in this country. As the People’s Car and with safety as one of our core DNA principles, we are committed to ensuring not only safer roads for our drivers, but for all, no matter their mode of transport,” said Bridget Harpur, Head of Marketing for Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand.
This is just the beginning of Volkswagen’s safety initiatives in South Africa. As a brand committed to creating safer journeys for all, Volkswagen will continue to shed light on road safety issues in South Africa and provide drivers with the technology they need to stay safe on the road.