Backup Camera Law Delayed; Tactics May Change

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Legislation that would require backup cameras in all cars has been delayed yet again, until 2015.  Instead federal regulators may give incentives to auto makers who put backup cameras in their cars by awarding those vehicles higher safety ratings, said the Bloomberg news agency.

Outgoing U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood once again called for more analysis of the rule’s cost to automakers, estimated at $2.7 billion or about $18 million per life saved.  Automakers claim the rule costs too much and should only be applied to larger vehicles.

The delay was announced late last week in a letter from LaHood to the Senate Commerce Committee Chairman, Jay Rockefeller.

The DOT is required to set final guidelines for a law passed in 2008 mandating backup cameras in all cars.  The law, called Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act, was named for a child who was backed over by his father.

The original guidelines called for a backup camera in all cars by 2014, but the DOT continues to postpone finalizing its recommendations to Congress. This latest, is its fourth delay.

“For the fourth time the Department of Transportation is defying a Congressional order to set a rule to improve rear visibility so drivers can see small children immediately behind their vehicles,” said the KidsandCars.org advocacy group Friday.

“The DOT is dragging its feet knowing that more children are dying every week from preventable backover tragedies,” said Janette Fennell, KidsAndCars Founder.

The DOT itself has said the law would prevent  95 to 112 fatalities and 7,072 to 8,374 injuries annually, said KidsandCars.

Fennell added, “It’s already been 5 years since the bill was signed into law, and they want to wait 2 more.  There is no excuse for further delay when we already have affordable and available technology to fix the problem. Today nearly every cell phone comes with a camera. Is it too much to ask to have a camera in your vehicle to save your child’s life?”

Source:  Bloomberg,  Automotive.com

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2 Comments

  1. This is a good Idea: It saves life’s.
    You know as well as I do the end consumer will pay for this device, its not like a measure that’s being considered for in car Alcohol detection device, where it will effect just a few morons that still want to drink and think they can drive after doing so but this will help save the life’s of all kids that could walk behind an automobile.
    I’ve install back up systems on car using a screen Its worth the extra investment, wither you tow a trailer or just drive a truck or suv, they save time and make it safer for you and others and Even with a small compact car its worth it because backing out of my garage uphill I can’t see what’s behind the car at all, and all it takes is one kid on a tricycle to cause a problem.
    These can help with blind spots on rear view mirrors and all shorts of problems. There also good for 18 wheelers and blind spots up the side of the truck, as well as travel trailers and motor homes, the cost isn’t that big a deal the camera don’t cost that much extra, and the screen can be in the rearview mirror’s ig its done on all automobiles the cost will drop enough to meet the cost of windshield wipers systems after some time. The Auto makers going to tell me that cost too much money?

  2. My Prius has a backup camera. I had never had one before, but now I don’t think I’d want to drive without it. I can see so much more than I could before and it makes it much easier to park as well, especially in a city where cars park so close together.

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