Driveway Warning Light

[Jack Olsen]

Granted, people are idiots and some will walk right into a hole even while you're screaming at them to stop. But I think the back-up beeper is a decent compromise for this application. Outside of a parking lot (or other place where commercial trucks would be), the sound will be a little more unusual. And whether or not people ignore it, there's some value to it being a commonly-accepted warning for a backing up vehicle -- as opposed to a buzzer or flashing light, which might get their attention without also getting them to notice the backing up car.

I ordered an inexpensive back-up alarm and some much-brighter reverse lights. I'm comfortable with these two steps. Of course, there's always more that could be done. But there's also a point that could be called a 'reasonable effort' on my part. Outside of that, people are going to have to look where they're going. I'm still not going to be speeding out of the space.

I'm still debating the toggle switch. My first thought is 'how much do I back up?' I guess having the alarm will make it pretty clear to me.

Then I can add the toggle.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Luvit, that's a great idea. At first glance, it doesn't pass the walking-past test -- but there is probably a way to make the trigger have to last longer (as in, the time it takes a car to trip/untrip it).

There are no other cars that park in this space. The only other one that backs out is my race car, and it is loud enough to get everyone's attention all by itself.

 

[luvit]

i like it. label the rocker switch as "Eject".

 

[bazzateer]

If reversing into the drive isn't an option (if not, why not?) just fit one of these http://www.focalprice.com/ER0108S/Beep_Reverse_Alarm_Light_Silver.html?Currency=GBP

 

[Jack Olsen]

I can't back in because the driveway itself is so narrow. There's a short strip of ground on the left side, which gives me room to get out that I wouldn't have if the door were opening on the house side.

The gray thing along the ground on the house side is there to allow me to get the car within about an inch of the wall. (It also protects that stupidly-placed gas line.)

 

[gsport]

i just thought of a great idea for ya Jack.... a sprinkler on each side of the driveway that would spray the sidewalk/driveway as you back out.. you could turn it on for a couple of seconds before you back out, then turn it off as you approach the sidewalk....
what a great idea.... lol of course this would have to be on a remote switch, or FOB

 

[djkeev]

I can't back in because the driveway itself is so narrow. There's a short strip of ground on the left side, which gives me room to get out that I wouldn't have if the door were opening on the house side.

The gray thing along the ground on the house side is there to allow me to get the car within about an inch of the wall. (It also protects that stupidly-placed gas line.)

Purchase a classic British car to drive with the steering wheel on the Right side..... Back in, exit car as you do now. Problem solved!

Dave

 

[Outlawmws]

Simple answer:

Just reverse INTO the driveway instead...

I've had too many idiots come flying down my street and nearly hit me (And of course it's MY fault they are driving 40 in a 25...) backing out, so I back into my drive every time now, and SWMBO has forced herself to learn to do it as wel (She hates backing up, and has neck problems dealing with it at times; we won;t even discuss parallel parking...)

Another Idea jack, is some spas us an air actuated switch, and the "gas station hose" idea might also tie in as work the switch.

Lastly, why not one or two of the newfangled powered LED lights out there?

I have a fairly early model spot light version, and it lasts all night...

 

[nehog]

Oh, hell, the obvious solution: a "walk no-walk" sign...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DIALIGHT-Wa...917?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41650936d5

One on each side, and you're set!

 

[HOTFR8]

 

[Agent1320]

Louder Exhaust.

 

[6768rogues]

Bulldoze those corners so you have some sight down the sidewalk. Or a backup beeper.

 

[larry4406]

They have combination backup beeper/lamps that simply plug in to the socket where the reverse lamp goes. No vehicle modifications.

 

[Dustball]

Two sets of salvaged garage door photo eye sensors, a power supply, a couple of normally open relays and a timing relay.

Mount each set about 5 feet apart projecting across the width of the driveway. Wire one set to one relay with the power output wired to the second set's relay power in. When an object is long enough to trip both photo eye sensors at the same time, both relay contacts close allowing voltage to pass to the timing relay. The timing relay will be connected to your warning light/beeper and will remain on for however long the relay is set to stay on.

Timing relay: normally open, timed open- http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_4/chpt_5/3.html

 

[HOTFR8]

They have combination backup beeper/lamps that simply plug in to the socket where the reverse lamp goes. No vehicle modifications.

I tried to find a photo to add when I posted about those. They do not fit all reverse lights.

 

[Zeke]

This thread with its responses is hilarious. At the same time, this is serious business. I don't know what can really be fool proof. I back into my driveway. The other day I was turning and getting set to back up. Just as I moved the lever into R, a little kid on a razor went whizzing right behind my truck. I had started moving and I jumped on the brake. That little sucker never gave it a thought. He was chasing his buddy and that's all that was on his mind.

If I had a beeper, I think the little scooter driver would have played beat the train at the crossing.

The only thing that seems to work is to move to the end of the driveway, look both ways twice and proceed. I'm much more fearful of exiting an alley blind across a sidewalk. Many close calls doing that.

 

[Krash Kadillak]

Jack's in tough spot with that driveway....
The back-up beeper seems the most logical (partial) solution for this situation, but there's no substitute for caution. Jack has to be able to hear if anybody happens to shout out a warning. I'd be mostly afraid of a small child (below the height of the wall) that he can't see.

One of those parabolic mirrors could help, but I don't see a good place to mount it.

Marshall

 

[fastjohnny]

They have combination backup beeper/lamps that simply plug in to the socket where the reverse lamp goes. No vehicle modifications.

I once replaced a taillight on a pickup I was getting ready to sell. The one I installed, unbeknown to me, had just such a bulb. I thought someone had played a trick on me an installed a backup alarm, of which I could not find. Finally realized it was the bulb itself.

I think, in the age of litigation, it is a losing situation, as a pedestrian always has the right of way. Having said that, due diligence in preventing such a situation would include the alarm, and posting a sign, as mentioned above. I'm sure a judge/jury would be impressed with the effort/research presented in the thread, indicating your concern for avoiding such an issue.

 

[gsport]

I still think you should rig up some sprinklers to spray the sidewalk

 

[AndyL]

Sawcutting driveways for loops *****... at least in the snow belt... liftmaster makes a probe version... BTW emx loop detectors are awesome, better than Sarasota

I'd go another route though... BEA falcon motion detector, set up correctly (you can set it up directionally and set minimum size) http://www.beainc.com/beainc/products/Industrial/Activation/Falcon.php?prd=8

My .02

 

[Hephaestus29]

You could install some arms that come down like when a train is approaching.

The back up siren is so so in my opinion, they have them on lots of commercial vehicles & construction equipment but I just don't think people pay attention to them. Just last week here in Indianapolis a construction worker was backed over by a track hoe & killed, I didn't quite understand the news story though as they made it sound like he was already dead & then got ran over ?

 

[HOTFR8]

This thread with its responses is hilarious. At the same time, this is serious business. I don't know what can really be fool proof. I back into my driveway. The other day I was turning and getting set to back up. Just as I moved the lever into R, a little kid on a razor went whizzing right behind my truck. I had started moving and I jumped on the brake. That little sucker never gave it a thought. He was chasing his buddy and that's all that was on his mind.

If I had a beeper, I think the little scooter driver would have played beat the train at the crossing.

The only thing that seems to work is to move to the end of the driveway, look both ways twice and proceed. I'm much more fearful of exiting an alley blind across a sidewalk. Many close calls doing that.

Kids at that age have tunnel vision and only see what is in front of them. Many a reversing accident would have been the same as you state.

 

[santagary]

Anyone who drives a truck with a backup alarm will tell you that such a warning device won't be any good. Bottom line: no one pays attention!

I think a better solution would be either a mirror (across the street?) or a (couple of) video camera(s) that you can monitor the sidewalk and see if someone is there.

Ditto...a couple of convex mirrors like those used at blind intersections...they see you and more importantly, you see them unlike all the other suggestions.

 

[Hephaestus29]

Jack, what ever became of this project ?

 

[HOTFR8]

Jack, what ever became of this project ?

Yes, I too would like to know what was the end solution ?

 

[Jack Olsen]

It's funny. I just saw the components of this today in one of my drawers. I ordered two things. One was a set of much-brighter LED bulbs for the reverse lights, and the other was an audible alarm that would be triggered by the same circuit.

But I haven't put them in yet. It's bugging me that I'll have such a conspicuous sound all the other times I'd back up. A part of me thinks I could still work out a beeping alarm that would be mounted right there at the end of the driveway, and that the trigger for it could be the reverse light circuit being activated on the car. It would be like clicking a remote every time I put the car in reverse. But it would only trigger the alarm sound when I was right by my front yard.

But then my neighbor decided to trim back his foliage in his front yard, and the project got pushed to the back burner. I can see and be seen pretty well, now. It might be that when his landscaping grows back in I'll want to revisit the idea of the 12V transmitter. But for now, the answer is: I've done nothing.

 

[luvit]

are you still within your $20 budget?
lol.

 

[mothgrey]

Simple answer:

Just reverse INTO the driveway instead...

I agree why not just back in.

 

[GarageEnvy]

Somehow I envisioned a solution like this.

I mean, it's not like you don't have a history with making things pop up out of the concrete. I suspect it's only because Reliabletool hasn't auctioned one off yet.

 

[BD1]

Get your own railroad crossing gates.

Are you gonna put the back up alarm on a switch too ? Might be pretty noise in the early AM

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Just throwing this out. What about a series of photoeyes and reflectors. I think they could be installed a 4' intervals with a requirement that two would need to be broken at a time to trigger the light. This should cut down on the false reads. This may be to cost prohibative.

I also found this, but I am not familiar with the manufacturer:

http://www.emxinc.com/outdoor-buried-driveway-sensor-carsense.html

They seemed to have lots of automated solutiions if this does not fit your needs.

I like this idea. A LED or IR with a reflector on the other side to bounce it back. That way, it only needs to be on one side of the drive. As noted, two of these tied to some relays and connected to the STROBE (I like that idea) and you have a easy solution to the problem. No sawing the drive, no running wires in the concrete, pouring sealer over them.

You need to be on the city about the sidewalk. That is a trip hazard, and looks crappy given one of the nicest houses in the area I'm sure.

Charles

 

[Cryptic1911]

Get your own railroad crossing gates.

Are you gonna put the back up alarm on a switch too ? Might be pretty noise in the early AM

damnit, I was just coming here to post this!

 

[BD1]

damnit, I was just coming here to post this!

Great minds think a like !!!!!!!!!!!!!!