Rear-view cameras on cars could become mandatory (LA Times)

Los Angeles Times ^ | 12/4/2010 | Jerry Hirsch

[GraceG]

The federal government wants automakers to install back-up cameras in all new vehicles starting in late 2014.

The plan, announced Friday, received a strong endorsement from insurance industry and other analysts and is likely to get some level of support from car manufacturers.

"There is no more tragic accident than for a parent or caregiver to back out of a garage or driveway and kill or injure an undetected child playing behind the vehicle," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. "The changes we are proposing today will help drivers see into those blind zones directly behind vehicles to make sure it is safe to back up."

[GraceG]

What, there are people who can turn their head back to see out the back window? I guess we are all too dumb to backup safely so they have to mandate another thing for us to pay for? I'll be the lobbyists for the aftermarket car back up cameras are going to be all over this, especially if they are made by G.E.

[mosesdapoet]

Passed in the Wisconsin lame duck senate

[monocle]

I basically agree with you, but I had an accident even by carefully backing up. I was leaving a parking lot which had a relatively steep incline and as I started to pull out I had to back up from rapidly approaching traffic. I looked in my rearview mirrror and well as my sideview mirror and saw nothing. I starting backing up and heard I scraping noise and then a horn. I stopped, got out and saw that I had backed up over the hood of a low sports car. The driver started shouting and I told him to get into my car and look into my mirrors. Having not seen his car in either of the mirrors he reluctantly agreed that if anyone was at fault it was him for being too close to my car.

[BigCinBigD]

I would like tp have this “option” on my next new car. There is no shortage of idiots that will pull out/walk behind a backing up car.

[cva66snipe]

OK so how soon till Mandatory recording and a transmission device upon impact for camera download. If someone wants this option fine. To require it? NO!!! and Double No!!! It is simply a foot in the door for yet another BIG BROTHER Camera in our face and monitoring yet another part of our lives. No thanks!

[Recon Dad]

I hate to put a wet blanket on the next liberal feel good program but I have a backup camera and it's pretty much useless.....but since it's for the children.....

[REPANDPROUDOFIT]

So, which Congressman has a friend who has cornered the market on back-up cameras. That guy is gonna be very rich!

[riverrunner]

I have always said the best way to sell your product is to get the government to mandate it.

[this_ol_patriot]

Maybe it's me but it seems like more and more pedestrians are challenging cars on non-crosswalk areas these days, I would go for mandatory cow-catchers on the front of all cars.

[LibWhacker]

Same here. Sensory overload if you ask me. Look over my left shoulder, look over my right shoulder, look in the rear view mirror, look at my right exterior mirror, look at my left exterior mirror, look at the backup camera screen... Arggggh! I actually feel less safe; by the time I’ve checked all those sources of info, the Macy’s day parade could’ve passed by behind me.

[cva66snipe]

I have always said the best way to sell your product is to get the government to mandate it.

Which is exactly what the insurance companies have done now for decades. They own our congress. None will dare call their insurer Tyrants. About 75% or more of the laws written in the past 50 years have been done so to do loss prevention for insurers or give them elevated status like the HMO Act. They have the most lawyers as well. Corporate lawyers who go through all claims especially things like life insurance claims from widows on husbands trying to find even the most trivial detail to try and deny a claim on yet they took the persons money for premiums.

IMO most {not all} Lawyers and Insurance Corps are the two most corrupt and dishonest operators in the private sector. Both have some sort of notion that their profession entitles them to lie and cheat..

[Recon Dad]

Depth perception is horrible on these cameras. Just try and use it to park.

[Joann37]

Sorry guys; I don’t think this is a liberal “feel good” program at all, but is actually an excellent feature to have. Once you use this thing for a few weeks, you rely on it heavily and will not want a car without one.

I don’t know how other mfrs. sell the camera, but Ford combines it into something called a “Driver’s Vision Package”, so an alarm goes off, as well, if something is nearby when the driver is backing up the car.

People in our society today are increasingly clueless and distracted (by I-pods, etc.) so this type of technology is a good counter to that. True, safe drivers shouldn’t have to purchase something because dolts are not paying attention, but I’m sure we’d all feel horrible if we hit someone, their fault or not.

Bottom line, this system is excellent.

[cva66snipe]

Same here. Sensory overload if you ask me. Look over my left shoulder, look over my right shoulder, look in the rear view mirror, look at my right exterior mirror, look at my left exterior mirror, look at the backup camera screen... Arggggh! I actually feel less safe; by the time I’ve checked all those sources of info, the Macy’s day parade could’ve passed by behind me.

I drive a rear blind vehicle a full size conversion van. When I back up I do two things. I put on my back up lights then look as good as I can in the mirrors and turning my head. I give a couple short taps on the horn and back on out slowly. In 30 years of driving mostly conversion vans I have not had any problems. Generally though I'd rather back in and pull out if at all possible. Backing in you have a fresh look before backing up.

[BigCinBigD]

I live Three miles from work and every night I dodge at least Five morons walking in the road. Cant back up at the mall or Wal*Mart without someone walking behind my car. It's like they think that big Black Mercury wont dare hit me! Idiots...

[waxer1]

So, I should be forced to have it? I mean whats next?

[RoadTest]

The reason given is safety.

The real reason is control.

Know thy Progressives.

[american_ranger]

So what. You like it, you pay for it. I don’t want it. Never had a back up accident. Don’t want your socialist enforced purchase. GTH.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I think they see things below the bumper or rear window view. Still, I suspect that these gizmos will have no “statistically significant” effect on automobile backing accidents. If fact, I would not be surprised if they actually increase. People will compensate by becoming even more careless. There are good studies that indicate air bags definitely do not save lives: people with air bags tend to drive more recklessly. It sounds like a waste of money driven by people who want to sell back up cameras.

DoT approved parking system:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Mx17WMoZQ&NR=1

Libertarian parking system:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVaFbkg9jRs

[Venturer]

Remember when you could order a car with any of 7 motor transmission choices. The windows cranked down and you had rubber mats on the floor. When you opened the hood you couls see the ground beneath and all of the spark plugs?

Today you can get you choice of colors.

Todays cars are so loaded up with crap and garbage that they cost a ton of money.

Heated seats, tv on the back of the seats, electric mirrors.

Take me back to the old basic automobile.One that I can afford.