Mandatory Backup Cameras by 2014?

I think this is a fantastic idea. It might raise the cost of vehicles a bit, but I think more visibility for people backing up is great. I need two hands to count the amount of times I have been hit or been in a vehicle where the driver has hit someone backing up.

On the terms of cost, some cheap mirror installed back up cameras can cost as little as 350, which is pocket change if you are buying a new car.

My only concern is people avoiding looking behind them just because they have a camera (which I suppose is inevitable with a good enough camera).

 

Hi All,

I also think this is a good idea. The generic-fication of the head-unit in cars makes this economically practical in this time period as well. In the Prius - its back-to-the-future!!!!

 

I think that a backup camera is a great idea and I use mine all of the time for a panoramic view behind. It irked me that the GenIII did not have a backup camera standard. Will the nav/top of the line stereo system also be mandatory?

 

This is great, but 4sure it will raise the prices of cars. Let's say it costs only an extra $25 for a car manufacturer to add this feature. With ~5.2 million cars made per year, that's an extra $130 million in costs for all U.S. car manufacturers!

It's the same reason car manufacturers don't use LED lights, but hey, if it's the law...it's the law!

 

I think this is more a car manufacturer issue, not to be worried about on the consumer end. It won't seem like much to us and they pretty much barely make money off the actual car anymore anyway (unless you're buying a Mercedes or something).

Yea this is basically what I was talking about. I think until technology improves to the point where we have 180 degrees of camera behind us, the need to turn around and look should still be emphasized. A mandatory camera may give the false impression you no longer need to look.

I actually find myself not looking behind me sometimes, but I always meticulously check all my mirrors and I find I know the space of my vehicle better than most.

 

The argument that it will increase costs for auto manufacturers doesn't hold water. Just to educate you, the consumer is the one who pays the costs, not the manufacturer. As long as -all- manufacturers have to put them in their products, there is no problem. It's actually a bonus for manufacturers, as they mark up whatever they sell, and the more what they sell costs, the more profit they make (in dollars rather than percent).

While the number of lives potentially saved by backup cameras is rather small in the great scheme of things (car accidents specifically), many of them are the tragic accidents of children being backed over by relatives.

I think we can all agree -that- is one area we can't spend too much money to prevent!

 

Hi All,

If the controls were reintegrated into the screen (like a second gen Prius) , then the costs of the mechanical controls can be saved, and the costs of a back-up camera can be very small.

That is why I think this is a really is back-to-the-future situation. The 2nd Gen Prius interior designer got it right, but was ahead of the time as other cars were not ready to have a head-unit, and the Prius head-unit was a one-car build.

With general application of the head-unit concept, and economic disperal of the overhead over several cars, will cost be very small.

 

You bring up some good points, and I somewhat agree. But the implementation of the technology doesn't concern me. If it truly an improvement and results in fewer accidents of any kind, then it's worthwhile.

Thousands of backup and blind-spot accidents occur each year in vehicles without backup cameras. Usually, it's the fault of the driver. In many of those cases, a backup camera may have helped the driver better assess his situation.

The point should be that a driver uses the best tools and sensors available to assess his environment. Right now, that's his brain and eyeballs. I use my Prius backup camera all the time and thing it's wonderful, but I also turn my head to look out the rear window or to check my blind spots when the situation warrants, which is still quite often. That's the "brain" tool. The existing backup camera is great, but has its shortcomings.

We submariners don't have windows or cameras while underwater, so we use the best tools and sensors we have -- extremely good sonar and inertial navigation systems, and extremely good sailors who are well-trained and disciplined.

Bring on the technology. Let's worry about the driver's training and discipline.

 

Like I mentioned in the original thread from Bob, I think it's important to have the camera AND and audible warning from proximity sensors. Even with the camera, not everyone will look at it all the time. I nice audible warning will make you look. Maybe even some pre-emptive braking as a feature evolution down the road?
I'd also like to see MUCH better reverse illumination. Backing up on foggy/wet nights down a dark narrow unfamiliar space can be scary!

- D

 

Why is this posted in the "Prius and Hybrid News" forum?

 

If you aren't capable of turning your head around and looking at what is beside you as well as behind you with the stereoscopic vision that you were born with, you probably should not be driving.

Technology is no substitute for responsible and defensive driving habits.

Keith

 

It seems to me that if we start posting threads in the "Prius and Hybrid News" forum that are not specifically Prius and hybrid news, then we will eventually get to a point where we will have to sift thought dozens of threads to find the Prius and hybrid news threads. We have separate forums (aka: organization; which exists so that people don't have to sift through hundreds of threads just to find what they are interested in) that already exist. If we just start posting everything into the Prius and Hybrid News forum, then what's the point of all the other forums?

just thinkin that's all. i'm glad merely to be allowed to participate on this website. thanks.

(so, to answer your question explicitly, yes, I would like to see it moved to the "other cars" forum):car:

 

That is because the internet recognizes that you are a cool guy.

(nothing against you at all - I just like to be able to click on the Prius and hybrid news forum and get all the up to date Prius and hybrid news blasted at me instead of having to sift through the entire daily news to find a news article about the Prius or other hybrids)