Parking sensors and reversing cameras are designed to make parking easier for you as well as the safety benefits that come with having what effectively is an extra pair of eyes at the front and/or back of your vehicle.
At AJT Installs, we are not only specialists in vehicle security, we are also concerned for your safety and the safety of your passengers whilst you are driving. We can, therefore, fit a number of models of Steelmate parking sensors along with reversing cameras to create a safer driving environment for you by improving your line of sight. Why not call us today to discuss the benefits of parking assistance?
What are the advantages of parking sensors?
When you are driving, your vision around the entirety of the car is limited, even when using the rear and wing mirrors. Many cars have blind spots and reversing where there are low walls or obstructions behind you particularly causes problems!
How many cars do you see on the road with a dent or damage low down on the back bumper or body? And what do you think when you see that damage?
Parking sensors and reversing cameras can make parking easier and safer in these instances, where parking areas may be congested, and in dimly lit or dark areas. They give you an extra set of eyes in an area you cannot normally see from your regular driving position.
Another advantage is that they take the stress out of parking. Some people find parking relatively easy, but others may find it more difficult for a number of reasons, for example through poor coordination, back or neck problems, or even having passengers on the back seat who partially block the view.
Parking sensors and reversing cameras are often a huge help to newly qualified drivers who may have purchased a slightly older car which doesn’t have them built in.
The advantages of parking sensors can be summed up as follows:
- Increase visibility, especially in tight spaces or dimly lit areas
- Make parking easier
- Reduce blind spots
- Reduce the chance of damaging your car, saving costly repairs!
- Reduce the chance of damaging any object behind you, which may not belong to you
- Help you become aware of potential hazards you wouldn’t normally be able to see
- Increase your confidence when parking or reversing as you become more attuned to the size of your car and safe distances around it
Parking sensors can also detect objects you may not be able to see in your wing mirrors or because of blind spots while you are driving, improving safety on your journey. It is worth noting however that parking sensors are an additional aid to your driving – they are not a replacement for your driving judgement and experience.
As with all modifications to your car, you should contact your insurer and let them know that you are thinking about having parking sensors and/or a reversing camera fitted to your vehicle. You may be surprised to find that your insurance payments could be reduced. According to this news article on Jardine Motors Group website, a survey by MoneySupermarket found that installing parking sensors could reduce insurance premiums by 13%.
Types of parking sensors
There are two main types of parking sensor – electromagnetic and ultrasonic. Although both versions do the same thing, they operate in different ways.
Ultrasonic parking sensors
These work by producing sound waves, which pulsate at a high frequency and by bouncing off other objects, can detect hazards around the car.
A receiver in the system catches these reflected sound waves and can work out the distance to that particular object or hazard.
Ultrasonic parking sensors employ a beeping signal which increases in speed as your vehicle gets closer to the object or hazard.
The main advantage over electromagnetic parking sensors is that they work both while the vehicle is stationary and while it is moving.
However, there are disadvantages to this type of parking sensor too because they may not detect hazards that are too thin or low to reflect the sound waves, such as the curb.
They also only detect objects that are directly in front of them, not off to the side. Interference can also affect how the sound waves builds a picture of the object, so anything mounted on the back of your vehicle, for example a trailer or a bike rack, may affect the sensors’ ability to build an accurate picture of an obstruction.
Electromagnetic parking sensors
These create an electromagnetic field around your vehicle, not solely behind you, so they can detect any number of objects within this field. They normally have a wider field of ‘vision’ than ultrasonic systems, but the major drawback with this type of sensor is that they don’t work unless your vehicle is moving.
This is unfortunate, because generally when you park your car, you tend to stop and go, so when you are stationary, they will not detect the hazard unless it is moving, i.e. a person, an animal, another vehicle. A second drawback is that this type of sensor is generally more expensive than an ultrasonic version.
Reversing cameras
At AJT Installs, we can fit reversing cameras as well as parking sensors.
Reversing cameras can make a huge difference to your driving, especially if driving is part of your job.
They provide a clear view of the area behind your vehicle, covering blind spots and allowing you to manoeuvre your vehicle perfectly, with minimum effort.
They feed into the infotainment display on your vehicle’s dashboard, showing a clear picture of any obstructions behind you, so you can clearly see hazards without relying on warning beeps.
Although it may be considered a drawback that some reversing cameras do not warn you when you are getting too close to an object or obstruction, you will be able to see a clear image of it.
Our advice would be to install both parking sensors and reversing cameras, especially if you are not confident at parallel or reverse parking so you can see a clear picture and receive audio warnings while parking in a tight spot!
Alternatively, the Steelmate PTSV404 is a rear parking assist system, which shows you the precise distance in meters to obstacles in the detection zone on a three inch monitor and includes audible alerts.
If you don’t have parking sensors or reversing cameras already fitted to your car, why not talk to the expert team at AJT Installs to find out the benefits of installing them? Or you can click here to see our selection of Steelmate parking sensors.