Rearview cameras are increasingly being installed in motor vehicles in order to reduce the threat of a backing up injury. Numerous tragedies have taken place simply because a motorist failed to see a child dart into the path of a vehicle. This can occur at home or even in a public parking lot, and a group called Kidsandcars estimates that 50 injuries are incurred by children on a weekly basis due to such an accident.
The government sought to reduce these injuries via the mandatory installation of rearview cameras back in 2007 with the passage of the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act. At the time, all vehicles from model year 2014 and beyond were to have rearview cameras as a requirement to make it to market.
Now, though, it appears that such a mandate won’t come to fruition until 2015 at the earliest. Consumer Reports, the Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and persons across the country are disappointed with this delay, as the implementation of the rule could be a boon to safety.
Even though many vehicles already have such technology, not all do. Consumer Reports explains that these systems are increasingly important due to the larger rearward blind spots created by modern automobile designs. Until rearview cameras are available, the NHTSA will continue to recommend that vehicle purchasers opt for a rearview camera-equipped automobile.