Nissan is developing a system that alerts the existence of ice on theroad

Nissan is developing a system that alerts the existence of ice on the
road
http://www.freegpsguide.info/2008/11/nissan-is-developing-system-that-alerts.html

 

It looks like a babelfish translation. (I also see the display in their
picture has what appear to be kanji characters.) If I understand it
correctly, it is just relaying variations of the same information we already
get by keeping our eyes open: other cars skidding or ending up in the ditch.
I have a couple questions. What actions should we take if there is an alert,
separate from the caution we should be exercising because we know the
conditions are potentially icing? What actions should we be taking if the
conditions are potentially icing and we are not getting alerts?

The Prius "snowflake" is more useful to me. If I see it I know the
conditions are potentially icing and I drive accordingly, although I am
usually aware of that anyway. I do become more cautious if I see other cars
in trouble but mine is usually one of the slowest cars on the road under all
conditions.

Mike

 

My old (1999) A6 has a snowflake that shows on the dash to indicate that the
temperature is at a point that the road could be slippery (drive with
caution). Common sense rules - drive accordingly.

 

Hi,
No matter what it ain't be good for dumb drivers.

 

My 1984 Volvo has an ambient temperature gauge with a red LED which is
exposed when the gauge is within the range where ice formation is
likely, so it's nothing new. Something that could actually detect the
presence of ice would be handy, but by then it might be too late to do
much about it.

 

When I had my 2000 F150, it would say ICE on the temperature outside
temperature gauge when the temperature got down to freezing or below.

 

Gosh, Nissan is on the cutting edge, eh. New technology!!!! Except, IIRC
that Rover and another company (perhaps Volvo or Saab) had some type of ice
warning device in the late 1970s.

DaveD