It seems the move to make side car mirrors obsolete is in full swing.
A number of companies have filed patents, developed concept cars and begun the process of petitioning the federal government to make changes to regulations that require car have side mirrors.
The side mirrors would be replaced by sophisticated camera systems that car makers say will just about eliminate blind spots.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, in a press release in Wired, made its position clear. "The Alliance is petitioning NHTSA to allow automakers to remove side-view mirrors and replace them with cameras that may expand side vision while increasing fuel efficiency," the Auto Alliance said in a release.
Toyota and Google are among companies that have filed patents that would make the side car mirror obsolete, according to a story in What A Future.
The BMW i8, a concept car, has a model with side cameras instead or mirrors.
The Audi R18 LMP1 racer contains a camera display that can be seen this this video (the whole thing is very cool, but you can see the camera at the 4 minute mark)
But don't get too excited, yet. Wired noted that even though the technology is available, it may be a while before cameras replace side mirrors. That's because it will take a change in Federal law -- which currently mandates that all cars have a driver's and passenger side mirror - before eliminating the side mirror becomes a reality.