Crash Testing

>>ACCIDENT REPORT
Vehicle: 2008 Mercury Sable, sedan, being test driven
Driver: Robert Bowden
Location of incident: Private residence, Fort Myers
Damage: Dent in trunk lid
Charges: Senior moment, driver; inadequate equipment, vehicle

INVESTIGATING OFFICER:
"I want you to describe to me what happened on the day of this accident."
RB: "The family and I had stopped by a relative’s house after a pleasant day on Sanibel Island. We’d taken three granddaughters to see the lighthouse and pick up a few shells. Good day, overall …"

IO: "Get to the accident, please."
RB: "As I was saying, after we left Sanibel, I drove us to a relative’s house, where we had an early supper. The accident happened there."

IO: "And specific circumstances led to denting this four-door?"
RB: "It happened while I was while backing up. I looked into the interior rear view mirror and began backing up. I looked at the left side outside mirror, but couldn’t really see anything clearly."

IO: "Go on."
RB: "The rear window side pillar was blocking the view on my side, and the rear window sill blocked my view of what was directly behind the Sable. So I had the typical limited visibility of a driver backing up. That’s when I was sure I needed a rear-view camera."

IO: "Was the car equipped with a navigation screen?"
RB: "Yes, it was, as part of $1,995 GPS system. That screen was showing a map, but Ford hasn’t figured out to incorporate the rear-view cameras used on most European and Asian cars. So I was denied the image that would have shown me the tree."

IO: "You didn’t see a tree?"
RB: "No, sir."