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.
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.
I pick up my g/daughter every Thursday night 8:00P.M. from Girl Scouts. Small, poorly lit parking lot, I’m driving a Trail Blazer and while backing up I’m scared to death I’m going to hit a small child that I can’t see by turning my head to look and looking in both mirrors. Little kids are quick and could dart behind me easily, plus the fact that not all parents are that observant of where their kids are.
This past Thursday night there was a woman walking by my car as I was ready to leave, I rolled down my window and asked her if it was clear behind me. She said it was and that’s the best I’ve felt yet about leaving that lot.
There are usually about 20 or so cars there but everyone leaves close to the same time. I think I will ask the G.S. leader if she needs a volunteer to watch outside as kids are leaving but with that many cars it probably would take more than one volunteer.