Hazard warning system for vehicles

A method comprising providing a warning of a hazard via a warning system to at least one occupant of at least one vehicle not involved in the hazard, the warning system comprising:

• a first detector structured to be carried onboard a first vehicle and adapted to detect a first hazard and to consequently cause a first output therefrom;
• a first transmitter in communication with the first detector and operable to broadcast a first remote warning signal therefrom subsequent to receiving the first output;
• a first receiver structured to be carried onboard the first vehicle and operable to receive an external remote warning signal transmitted by another transmitter;
• and
• a first local warning device in operable communication with the first receiver and configured to provide a warning to an occupant of the first vehicle, the warning corresponding to receipt of the external remote warning signal, the first local warning device comprising a display device in communication with the first receiver, wherein:
• the display device is structured to visually convey an estimate of the distance to a location of an external hazard associated with the external remote warning;
• each of a plurality of audible noises is individually assigned to one of a plurality of discrete distance estimates;
• and
• a speaker is operably associated with the system to broadcast the noise corresponding to the estimate of the distance;
• and
• an override control operable to terminate broadcast of the first remote warning signal, wherein the override control is structured to be operable only after a pre-programmed period of time has elapsed subsequent to first broadcast of the first remote warning signal.

A method comprising:

• outfitting at least one of a pedestrian, a road worker, a utility worker, and a bicyclist with a transmitter configured to transmit a warning signal;
• outfitting a vehicle with a hazard warning system, the hazard warning system comprising:
• a receiver structured to be carried onboard the vehicle and operable to receive the warning signal transmitted by the transmitter;
• another transmitter in communication with the receiver and operable to broadcast another remote warning signal therefrom subsequent to receiving the warning signal;
• and
• a local warning device in operable communication with the receiver and configured to provide a warning to an occupant of the vehicle, the warning corresponding to receipt of the warning signal, the local warning device comprising a display device in communication with the receiver, wherein:
• the display device is structured to visually convey an estimate of the distance to a location of the at least one of a pedestrian, a road worker, a utility worker, and a bicyclist associated with the warning signal;
• each of a plurality of audible noises is individually assigned to one of a plurality of discrete distance estimates;
• a speaker is operably associated with the system to broadcast the noise corresponding to the estimate of the distance;
• and
• an override control operable to terminate broadcast of the another remote warning signal, wherein the override control is structured to be operable only after a pre-programmed period of time has elapsed subsequent to first broadcast of the another remote warning signal.