Up until now, communication between drivers on the road is limited to impersonal light signals, a few honks perhaps, sometimes hand signals - and the occasional curse. Slowing down or cutting off another driver’s path accidentally may be viewed as hostile behavior by other drivers. The apparent lack of courteous communication between drivers is regarded as one cause of road rage, or the deliberate violent behavior by motorists influenced by heightened emotions such as anger and frustration. Now, a company called AutoPlas Corp is aiming to help reduce road rage dramatically by allowing drivers to communicate with each other through an LED electronic display panel.

Dubbed as the Vehicle Courteous Message Display or VCMD, the LED device displays preprogrammed messages such as “Sorry”, “Thanks”, “Please”, and “Help” through the press of a button whenever the need arises. The VCMD is actually very easy to use. It includes a small remote control, which can be placed in an easily accessible location, and an LED electronic display, which can be mounted near the rearview mirror of any vehicle. Words, phrases, signs and combined messages are stored into the display’s memory and can be displayed with the simple press of a button. The display is viewable up to 50 feet away.

The VCMD can also be used for a wide range of situations. Simple messages, like ‘Thanks’ and ‘Sorry’, can make a lot of difference on the road. Displaying messages such as “Baby on board” will help alert other drivers to exercise caution around the user’s vehicle. The device can also prove useful in case of emergencies - users can display messages such as “Please call 911”. The VCMD comes in two categories: the basic model comes with preprogrammed messages while the advanced model lets the user express his own words and phrases. The advanced model is also programmed not to accept offensive words.

The VCMD was met with positive reactions when it was introduced at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) two years ago and was awarded as “Outstanding Achievement in New Product Design and Innovation” by Popular Mechanics.