New safety screen ‘enhances visibility during vehicle breakdowns’

The inventor of a new safety device believes it has the potential to usurp the traditional red triangle as the preferred way to warn drivers about a broken-down vehicle.

Be-Seen-Screen, the brainchild of entrepreneur Richard Edwards, uses a micro-prismatic film to achieve high reflective performance in all light conditions, visible up to 500 metres. The lime-yellow and red chevron design is immediately recognisable as a warning.

The film is bonded to a reinforced backing to ensure durability in all weather. It fastens to the rear of cars, vans and small trucks using suction pads and has been tested by Millbrook Proving Ground for robustness and to ensure reflection at multiple angles.

The Millbrook data showed no displacement or detachment of the product at all testing speeds, and only minimal movement at 20 metres per second. It surpassed British Standards for the optical tests with many results also in excess of the Home Office standards for emergency vehicles.

Edwards said: “With a Be-Seen-Screen on board, if your vehicle fails on a rainy afternoon in poor light conditions, you can have a bright, reflective warning sign in place in moments. By pressing the powerful suction pads to the rear windscreen or boot you can clearly and securely display the distinctive chevrons and ‘broken down’ message.

“The banner has the same reflectivity as emergency vehicles, day or night, to make other motorists aware of your stranded vehicle. It’s an eye-catching and faster alternative to safety triangles where the 45 metre walk along the carriageway to put them in place represents a risk in itself.”

Clothing and home products retailer Next has been trialling the product for the past 15 months on 1,000 vehicles, including cars, vans and trucks up to 17.5-tonnes. Home appliance supplier Miele has also placed an order, according to Edwards.

Andy Latham, group health, safety, environment and wellbeing manager at Next, said the safety banner “significantly enhances visibility during breakdown situations” and provides greater safety for staff and other road users.

“Unlike traditional safety triangles, the banner eliminates the need for employees to leave the immediate vicinity of their vehicle to deploy it,” he said. “By attaching directly to the rear of the car, it minimises exposure to roadside dangers, especially in high-traffic or low-visibility conditions. Additionally, the banner's superior visibility ensures that other road users are alerted sooner, reducing the risk of accidents.

“This initiative reflects our proactive approach to road safety and our dedication to protecting our team, setting a standard for corporate responsibility in vehicle safety measures. By adopting this advanced device, we are not only safeguarding our employees but also contributing to safer roads for everyone."

Sold directly by Be-Seen-Screen or via Halford Online, the retail price is £29,95 but it will be discounted to £17.95 + VAT for volume orders. Edwards has sold around 2,500 so far, primarily to individuals, but he is in talks with a number of national fleets.

Be-Seen-Screen is also available with replacement ‘Broken Down’ strips in different languages for those travelling abroad. The message is simply slid into a plastic sleeve.

The product, which spent three years in development, has been endorsed by retired superintendent and former policing commander of Thames Valley Police Barry Halliday, who believes that the dangers posed by broken down vehicles need to be radically reduced, with the AA and RAC alone attending more than five million cases per year.

Halliday said: “As technology has changed with smart motorways, for example, the way all drivers of motor vehicles react to breakdowns also needs to change. This safety product, with the ability to deploy so quickly, will support them in doing so.”