Autoport Newsroom
Watch Your Back
Rearview Cameras Help Avoid Obstacles, Accidents and Tragedy
By Doug Newcomb Senior Editor, Technology, www.edmunds.com
The methodical march of technology into automobiles primarily means you don't have to do things you used to do: dial a number on a cell phone keypad
when you can just say it aloud using voice control, read a paper map when you can simply punch a destination into a nav system, bring a bunch of CDs
along on a trip when you can slip an iPod into your pocket. Or get out of your car to make sure there's nothing in the way before backing up when you
can glance at a rearview camera.
Rearview cameras debuted on luxury vehicles and then migrated to SUVs and minivans out of necessity and, unfortunately,
tragedy. Now the feature is available on smaller and more modestly priced vehicles such as the Acura TSX
and Toyota Prius. Safety advocates are pushing for rearview cameras - and similar technologies that warn drivers of people in their rearward path - to
become even more prevalent. In the meantime, automakers have added more bells and whistles to their rearview camera systems to better let drivers
avoid accidents and expensive scrapes or ease into a tight parking spot. A Spike in "Backover" Fatalities According to Janette E. Fennell, founder
and president of the nonprofit auto-safety advocacy group KidsAndCars.org
An Extra Set of Eyes
But you don't have to buy a new car
to get an extra set of eyes looking out for people and objects in your path when you back up. Aftermarket rearview cameras are available at a variety of
prices and with a wide range of configurations. Audiovox's CMOS2 color rearview camera, for example, retails for $150 uninstalled, it's compatible with any
in-dash monitor with RCA inputs and it has five different mounting options. Or the company's ACA250 is a $119 DIY kit that comes with a camera that attaches
to a license plate and a 2.5-inch color monitor that wirelessly displays images
from it.
Don't Back Up Without It!
While all of this technology makes it easier to back up and park without worrying about hitting something or someone, it's no substitute for being aware of what's around you. In fact, these devices all typically employ some sort of warning to that effect when they are activated. As with most technologies, once you get used to using a rearview camera it's hard to go back to getting out of the car - or, worse, just guessing and hoping that your path is free and clear. In addition to the convenience factor, there's this sobering statistic to consider: According to Fennell, 50 children every week are backed over in the U.S., and at least two of those are fatalities. "If that's not bad enough," she added, "in over 70 percent of these cases it's a direct relative that's behind the wheel. The people who love them the most are suddenly responsible for their deaths."
