Posted on 05/02/2018 12:09:36 PM PDT by BBell
All newly manufactured vehicles to be sold in the U.S. are required as of Tuesday to have backup cameras equipped as a standard feature.
Advocates for the rule, which was mandated by the National Highway Transportation Safety Agency in 2014, hope today’s milestone will lead to fewer instances of drivers backing into people due to a lack of visibility.
“This day is so important because we don’t have a choice” when it comes to children’s safety around cars, said Janette Fennell, founder and president of KidsAndCars.org, an advocacy group that works to prevent accidents involving children and motor vehicles. “This measure will save countless lives, especially of children.”
Congress passed the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act in 2008. The bill, signed into law by then-President George W. Bush, ordered NHTSA to issue by 2011 a standard for improving drivers’ ability to detect pedestrians behind their vehicles.
NHTSA’s proposed standard was stalled for several years in the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, according to a Reuters. It wasn’t until March 2014, when a coalition of advocacy groups filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation (of which NHTSA is a part), that a rule was issued, with a May 1, 2018, deadline for full implementation.
Today was 16 years in the making for Dr. Greg Gulbransen, who in 2002 accidentally backed over and killed his 2-year-old son Cameron, the namesake of the bill Congress enacted.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
I drove for 30 years without a backup camera and now I don't know what I'd do without it!
I watched 2 people use these cameras yesterday at Walmart and both almost hit the car on their right ,they never took their eyes off the screen ,mirrors nope
Made that mistake. Relied too much on the backup cam... until I hit a post painted bright yellow. Yellow scuffs on the black painted bumper.
Never really used the dumb thing after that. IMO, the camera is a marginally useful tool. Use it for an initial quick check, but you must turn and use the rear window while backing. You really can’t watch the backup camera while backing. Well, you could, but it’s rather confusing turning to adjust while looking forward into the backup camera.
IMO, sort of a tech gimmick. Safer just to turn and look while backing.
Another mandated gee-gaw to raise the prices even more................
NHTSA’s proposed standard was stalled for several years in the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, according to a Reuters. It wasn’t until March 2014, when a coalition of advocacy groups filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation (of which NHTSA is a part), that a rule was issued, with a May 1, 2018, deadline for full implementation.
So this piece of "save-the-children" legislation, was stalled by the Obama administration for most of his two terms.
I wonder if we'll hear the news point that out?
Buy a code reader. $15. And then you reset the codes right before inspection. Problem solved.
I agree with you. It makes one lazy. But I do like the rear backup radar signal. With so many big SUVs , all with darkened rear windows, backing out of a mall parking spot is an adventure as vision to left and right rear is very restricted. The radar dings help a lot.
This reminds me of a story.
Years ago my old beater went into the shop for routine maintenance.
They explained—”You only have one problem with the car. It will no longer accelerate in reverse.”
My response: “Why would I want to do that?”
;-)
How much would it cost to build a car that ran at highway speeds, had seat belt constrains, sat four people in four seats, and otherwise would be constructed with the fewest comforts and amenities as possible. How inexpensive could one be built and sold?
You’re absolutely right. I rented a car and couldn’t even back out of a driveway. Totally blind.
“If it will save one life” has limits. This gimmickry exceeds that.
Yeah. I would if I still lived in Seattle. :)
No need here...
Exactly!
Today’s cars are slopers. That means the rear window slopes at a 10 degree angle. Add to that huge rear seat head rests and huge D-pillars - the end result is that it’s useless to attempt to look out the back window when backing up.
Useless.
The velvet chains of mandatory safety.
But, put down your cell phone, don’t adjust the radio, don’t talk to your passenger, don’t take a sip of your soda pop..... We obviously can’t be trusted to operate machinery.
How much would it cost to build a car that ran at highway speeds, had seat belt constrains, sat four people in four seats, and otherwise would be constructed with the fewest comforts and amenities as possible. How inexpensive could one be built and sold?
_______________________________________________________________
You just described a brand new car that could be sold here in the US for way less than Five Thousand Dollars.
Could. But will never happen.
https://www.cardekho.com/cars/Tata
This has been a thing for more than a year, I don’t know what they are talking about.
All 2017 cars were required to have it.
I put one in my 2003 Suburban as a retrofit, and I LOVE it. It makes all of life so much better. I’m putting one in my 02 CRV next.
But this technology only works as well as it’s user. My mother in law has it, and she will look right at someone as she backs into them.
And when a user relies on it near kids, thats not really the intent of it. It’s like when Cadillac put night vision on their cars that only 80 year olds can afford. They wind up going faster down these dark roads and taking more chances.
My current vehicle has one. I do appreciate it.
But this is more government overreach. Even though the thing probably only adds fifty dollars cost at this point.
How about collision radars that will sound off like a ship does when you get to close. I watched a guy back up to get a keg using his back up camera. He ignored all directions and concentrated on his camera. He side swiped some empty kegs and tubs.
90% of the rental cars I have had with backup cameras have cameras that no longer work.
Just another thing to go wrong.
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