Where does it end? Seriously, where does it end? Airbags, back-up cameras, ABS brakes, radar, sonar, force-fields, speed governors... let’s make them all mandatory. After all, it’s all about saving lives. No wonder new cars start at $20,000. Pretty soon, only the upper-middle class will be able to afford a new car.
I have a backup camera in my car. I do not find it useful. I do not use it. I use my mirrors, or I actually turn around to watch where I’m going when I back up. I have never had a backing accident. If others have had backing problems, then feel free to buy a car with a backup camera, but don’t make me pay for one.
The government has no business mandating this type of equipment. I suspect the link between backup cameras and accident reduction is very tenuous, if exists at all. Furthermore, even if backup cameras do reduce accidents, it doesn’t change the fact that the government has NO business mandating this equipment! If you want a backup camera, then pay extra and buy a car that has one. I should be able to pay less and buy a car that doesn’t have one.
In 43 years of driving, I've had three backing up collisions. In looking back at the cause, I don't feel a back up camera would have helped in any of those cases
In each case I was confident the coast was clear and didn't look where I should have been looking.
Which means that I probably would not have been looking at the monitor either.
My back up camera doesn’t show me anything, it beeps when something is behind me. The beep never fails to get my attention and I stop. Doesn’t matter what is back there, car, person, dog, traffic cone, it beeps, I stop and reconsider my move.