Topic: Backup Cameras To Be Mandated Starting In 2018

[Autos_Editor]

NHTSA will require all new cars in US be sold with backup cameras after four year delay

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[KD]

They should add auto-headlamps to the list.  I can't remember it being so bad an issue as it is now.  Just last night during a freezing rain blizzard I saw quite a few late model cars driving around with DRLs only. 

[tpl]

Headlight washers and amber rear indicators would be on my list.

[Noto]

Win!  ...and since Canada is just a territory of the US as far as auto manufacturers are concerned, win for Canada too (hopefully).

Shame it's not retroactive - I wish all vehicles, not just all 'new' vehicles would have to have them.  At this rate, 'all cars/trucks' means it won't be realized until sometime in the 2030s.

I wonder if there's going to be any sort of standard, though...will economy cars now put the viewing screen into the rear-view mirrors?  ...or will all cars now get some sort of mini screen placed somewhere awkwardly on the dashboard?  Does this now mean that all cars will have some sort of touch screen?

Hmmm!

[Northernridge]

While I'm all for safety (sort of), I do feel for people who have to stretch ever higher just to afford a base model new car.

[mmret]

While I'm all for safety (sort of), I do feel for people who have to stretch ever higher just to afford a base model new car.

I think it'll be blunted by just a massive economy of scale on screens and cameras. Electronics keep getting cheaper, that is almost a universal law.

That said - I think mandatory aspherical blind spot mirrors are more important than mandatory reverse cameras.

[mwqa]

Here's an idea - make cars that you can see out the back of!

Rear visibility is definitely out of style... and I guess supersized cars (minivans and SUVs) don't help.

Does anyone know the reliability of all these electronics? 

[blotter]

While I'm all for safety (sort of), I do feel for people who have to stretch ever higher just to afford a base model new car.

I think it'll be blunted by just a massive economy of scale on screens and cameras. Electronics keep getting cheaper, that is almost a universal law.

That said - I think mandatory aspherical blind spot mirrors are more important than mandatory reverse cameras.

i think that's true.  look back at a base Civic or Corolla from 1980, 1990, 2000 - what it came with and the price.  I bet the price isn't that far off but you get a heck of a lot more car. 

It's just like new features in high end luxury cars, they eventually funnel down to more mainstream models.   As newer features get added / invented, other stuff gets "pushed down" into base models.

[PJungnitsch]

Yeah, exactly. When I was looking at Vibes/Matrix's originally, side airbags/ABS/Stability control were $1000 options, each. Now a $10,000 Micra will have all those standard.

[PJ]

Am I the only one that thinks this is ridiculous? I mean it's a nice luxury feature to have but FFS these types of things have more to do with crappy drivers than anything missing in a car.

I agree with you.  Gimmicks will not solve the problem of bad drivers.  Now you will just get drivers who stare at the screen while they back out into traffic. 

[Northernridge]

While I'm all for safety (sort of), I do feel for people who have to stretch ever higher just to afford a base model new car.

I think it'll be blunted by just a massive economy of scale on screens and cameras. Electronics keep getting cheaper, that is almost a universal law.

That said - I think mandatory aspherical blind spot mirrors are more important than mandatory reverse cameras.

I agree about the manufacturing costs...but that translates into margin opportunity for car makers so I'm not convinced the savings will be passed along to consumers.

[pickles]

So when this mandatory equipment runs afoul when out of warranty will the government be responsible for the repair costs? The reason why I did not want a camera in my new subaru. I wanted less technology in the car which equals less to go wrong

[sailor723]

Here's an idea - make cars that you can see out the back of!

Rear visibility is definitely out of style... and I guess supersized cars (minivans and SUVs) don't help.

Does anyone know the reliability of all these electronics? 

I do 

[mwqa]

Can't wait until they mandate one of these



Built like a tank, rearward seating, extra rear-caterpillar-tread traction, complete audio-visual simulation... cool uniforms...

[Noto]

Seriously?  It's a camera.  It's not complex technology and unlikely to fail (unless it's built by Chrysler: http://www.dodgejourneyforum.com/topic/3116-backup-camera-stopped-working/).

In any event, if it's mandatory on vehicles, then if it malfunctions, it'll be the responsibility of the owner to fix it under penalty of fine - but I'd love to see roadside checks to ensure proper working of the camera.  That'd be hilarious!

...I agree that sonar or auto-braking would be better, but those are both more expensive options.  Hopefully this will turn out to be good for the auto-buying public and not an exercise in politics.

[Scarecrow]

Am I the only one that thinks this is ridiculous? I mean it's a nice luxury feature to have but FFS these types of things have more to do with crappy drivers than anything missing in a car.

I agree with you.  Gimmicks will not solve the problem of bad drivers.  Now you will just get drivers who stare at the screen while they back out into traffic.

+1

[PJungnitsch]

Here's an idea - make cars that you can see out the back of!

Rear visibility is definitely out of style... and I guess supersized cars (minivans and SUVs) don't help.

Does anyone know the reliability of all these electronics? 

I do 

Only the Germans will somehow wire it in series with the transmission or engine Everyone else should be fine.

The gf is wanting me to add a backup camera to her CRV, after hearing a few examples of people nearly backing over toddlers. It would be a lot easier for a manufacturer to string the wiring in place during vehicle assembly then me after the fact. And so many touch screens are being added to vehicles anyway, it can't be much extra to add camera functionality.

[Scarecrow]

This is how I back a car up.  Works well.  Can see everything and no squashed kiddies on my 30+ year driving record.

I'm not looking at the dash when I back up the car, so what good does it do to have a camera display there?

[Fobroader]

This is how I back a car up.  Works well.  Can see everything and no squashed kiddies on my 30+ year driving record.

I'm not looking at the dash when I back up the car, so what good does it do to have a camera display there?

Ive been driving for about 1/2 that time and I have yet to remove grandma from under my rear axle, looking through the back window works well...also knowing your surroundings helps. Like I said, my next truck will have one, but only for hitching up to the trailer.

[Noto]

This is how I back a car up.  Works well.  Can see everything and no squashed kiddies on my 30+ year driving record.

I'm not looking at the dash when I back up the car, so what good does it do to have a camera display there?

Ive been driving for about 1/2 that time and I have yet to remove grandma from under my rear axle, looking through the back window works well...also knowing your surroundings helps. Like I said, my next truck will have one, but only for hitching up to the trailer.

No question that the backup cameras will be misused by 95% of new car owners after 2018, but the 'idea' is to check the camera before you back up, then back up like you do, looking rear-ward, and then when you are 'close' to the back of your spot (assuming backing into a spot), then you can watch the camera for 'precision' parking.

'idea'.