Crash warning system for motor vehicles

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first accident detector structured to be carried on board a first motor vehicle and adapted to detect an accident involving the first motor vehicle and to consequently cause a first output;
• a first transmitter in communication with the first accident detector and operable to broadcast a first remote warning signal subsequent to receiving the first output;
• a first receiver structured to be carried on board the first motor vehicle and operable to receive a second remote warning signal that is transmitted by a different apparatus;
• a first local warning device in communication with the first receiver and effective to communicate a warning, corresponding to the second remote warning signal, to an occupant disposed inside the first motor vehicle;
• and
• an over-ride control operable to stop broadcast of a signal from the apparatus, the over-ride control structured to be operable only after a first pre-programmed period of time has elapsed subsequent to first broadcast of the signal.

A crash warning system comprising:

• a crash detector operable to generate an input signal resulting from a crash involving a motor vehicle in which the crash detector is carried, the crash detector comprising a component of an air-bag deployment control assembly of the motor vehicle that is effective to cause the input signal responsive to air-bag deployment caused by the crash;
• a transmitter in communication with the crash detector and operable to broadcast a first remote warning signal subsequent to receiving the input signal;
• a receiver structured to receive a second remote warning signal from a different crash warning system;
• a display device in communication with the receiver and effective to communicate a local warning, corresponding to the second remote warning signal, to an occupant of the motor vehicle, the display device structured to visually convey an estimate of the distance to a broadcast location of the second remote warning signal;
• an alarm adapted to broadcast an audible warning, for perception of the audible warning by an occupant of an approaching motor vehicle, responsive to the input signal;
• and
• a warning light adapted to broadcast a visible warning light output, for perception of the warning light output by an occupant of an approaching motor vehicle, responsive to the input signal;
• and
• a speaker operably associated with the crash warning system to broadcast a noise corresponding to the currently displayed distance, wherein a plurality of audible noises are individually assigned to a corresponding plurality of discrete distance estimates.