Backup cameras are now one of the top 4 safety items that consumers want, and consumer awareness of back up cameras is up by 6 percent this year, according to a Harris poll.
Currently, 34 percent of U.S. adults are aware of what a backup camera does.
And the number of people who want a backup camera grew by 23 percentage points this year compared to 2011, based on a poll of 12,000 adults in April.
“Backup cameras are one of the most popular features. In years past it was strong, but I wouldn’t say it was at the top. This year, it’s among the top four,” said David Duganne, senior Research Director for Harris Interactive.
Devices like blind spot warning systems and pedestrian sensors also gained consumer interest over the past year compared to other technologies like satellite radio and voice activated controls.
As of April, 16 percent of adults said they are familiar with what a blind spot detector is, up 8 percentage points over last year.
For voice activation, the number of people who want the feature dropped 6 percentage points this year.
The Harris study also found that consumer interest in navigation remains strong. Almost 40 percent would like to own a navigation system (prior to learning of the price at $800).
The study also addressed a current dilemma for car makers: should 3G/4G service be built-in to the dash or accessed through a smartphone?
The poll found more people want to dock their phones in the car (24%) than want wireless built in (14%).
Source: Harris Interactive
