DOT to require cameras in cars

[Raoul]

DailyTech - Government Regulations Could Require Backup Cameras on All New Vehicles by 2014

The US Department of transportation is considering requiring back up cameras in all cars by 2014.

Call me paranoid, but what happens when you take car cameras, add Onstar or other wireless connections, and the NSA?

[Guest bkelm18]

Oh don't worry. The gov't already has plenty of ways it can spy on you right now.

[DaveTN]

The NSA already has the ability to watch and listen to anything you say. Why would this concern you?

EDIT: bkelm18 beat me to it this time.

Edited March 23, 2011 by DaveTN

[vontar]

I will be waiting on the Study in 2015, accidents linked to drivers watching review monitor.

[Worriedman]

Might very well prove to be a double edged sword.

[JReedEsq]

I will be waiting on the Study in 2015, accidents linked to drivers watching review monitor.

I've been in a few cars with BU cameras. FWIK, the cameras are only on when the car is in reverse.

[DRM]

I've been in a few cars with BU cameras. FWIK, the cameras are only on when the car is in reverse.

<tinfoil>The screen is only on then in most OEM setups - but you have no idea when it is actually filming... and recording...</tinfoil>

[Guest GT_Rat]

I've been in a few cars with BU cameras. FWIK, the cameras are only on when the car is in reverse.

Yep. My Murano has a backup camera. Outside of the tinfoil hattery and the obvious cost issues I think requiring them on new vehicles is a good thing.

[LagerHead]

Yep. My Murano has a backup camera. Outside of the tinfoil hattery and the obvious cost issues I think requiring them on new vehicles is a good thing.

Why? I have never had a problem going in reverse. And since it's such a minuscule part of your total driving experience I just see it as an unnecessary added cost.

[Guest db99wj]

I'm split. I don't like the requirement of them, but I do like that they should be an option. My mom loves her back up system on her Caddy, it beeps when she gets close to something and has kept her from hitting several things. The camera thing, she would not look at I would bet. I think a requirement should be the beeping system at a minimum and then have as an option the camera. My boss has it on his Denali, it's kind of cool. I have backed over a kids bike before, and I am dang near paranoid about running over a kid. Our front door is right beside the carport, and one of the kids could easily come out as I, or my wife are backing out.

[Guest BenderBendingRodriguez]

I have backed over a kids bike before, and I am dang near paranoid about running over a kid. Our front door is right beside the carport, and one of the kids could easily come out as I, or my wife are backing out.

This is pretty much why they're requiring them. Don't want people backing over children. You can look over your shoulder all day long, but if there is a child behind you and below your rear window you're just not going to know it. Personally, that's not something I'm very concerned about (I drive a very low-to-the-ground car and live in a relatively kid-free neighborhood), but a lot of people obviously are.

[E4 No More]

I love my back-up camera in both my F-150 and my wife's Mustang. We use it all the time.

EDIT: I don't think it should be required, however.

[DRM]

I think it is poor situational awareness to focus on a little screen on your dash instead of the real, living, world around you.

Mandatory back-up SENSORS? - yes. Cameras? No.

[dralarms]

I've been in a few cars with BU cameras. FWIK, the cameras are only on when the car is in reverse.

Mine works all the time, I don't use it going down the road but I can turn it on and watch for cars and stuff. The one time I did use it was to count the bugs on the front bumper of a car that was following me too close.

[LagerHead]

I see now. So, "it's for the children." Where have I heard that before?

[Guest drv2fst]

Backup camera's are nice. But, let's let the market decide what cars they should be on. I think the government making almost anything mandatory is wrong.

[vontar]

Look, not everyone needs that option, some do.

It is another way to drive cost up. The system it will be cheap but by the time mark up go in, then a person pay interest on the loan for 3-5 years, that cheap device has jacked the total price up a good deal more. So I am not for making it mandatory.

[JReedEsq]

Backup camera's are nice. But, let's let the market decide what cars they should be on. I think the government making almost anything mandatory is wrong.

+1;

[Guest db99wj]

They can be bought for under $100. Bet they will cost waaayyyy more than that "factory".

[vontar]

They can be bought for under $100. Bet they will cost waaayyyy more than that "factory".

Market up, then interest for 5 years. Yup, they are going to be pricey.

[E4 No More]

I think it is poor situational awareness to focus on a little screen on your dash instead of the real, living, world around you.

Mandatory back-up SENSORS? - yes. Cameras? No.

Apparently you haven't seen the ones that display in your rearview mirror. I would say it's poor situational awareness to ignore a blind spot right in front of where you are backing up.

[DRM]

Apparently you haven't seen the ones that display in your rearview mirror. I would say it's poor situational awareness to ignore a blind spot right in front of where you are backing up.

Not sure where you learned to drive - but people have been backing up cars for over 100 years without back-up cameras, and I'm pretty sure we haven't killed a gazillion kids on bicycles... yet.

Besides, I didn't suggest we "ignore" anything, which is why I said the backup sensors are a good idea.

[E4 No More]

Not sure where you learned to drive - but people have been backing up cars for over 100 years without back-up cameras, and I'm pretty sure we haven't killed a gazillion kids on bicycles... yet.

Besides, I didn't suggest we "ignore" anything, which is why I said the backup sensors are a good idea.

You're the one that was criticising people's situtational awareness for using back-up cameras. Sensors fail. I've had them fail on a couple of vehicles so far, but you know when a camera has failed.

Every vehicle has a blind spot back there, and kids have been backed over. It's happened in my family. If it were YOUR kid the odds wouldn't make a darn bit of difference to you.

[DRM]

You're the one that was criticising people's situtational awareness for using back-up cameras. Sensors fail. I've had them fail on a couple of vehicles so far, but you know when a camera has failed.

Actually, I criticized people's situational awareness for *focus*ing on the screen, not for using a device. As an extra auditory alert, the sensors are just fine... but they do not, and should not replace situational awareness, which - IMHO - is what a back-up camera does.

Every vehicle has a blind spot back there, and kids have been backed over.

How MANY kids? Is this really an event of epidemic proportions, such that new laws and new costs need to be put into place? Especially when that new device actually draws your attention AWAY from the real world and causes you to focus on a digital screen image?

It's happened in my family. If it were YOUR kid the odds wouldn't make a darn bit of difference to you.

Sorry it has happened to your family. But I don't tend to make decisions or form opinions based on anecdotal evidence and emotional arguments.

[E4 No More]

Actually, I criticized people's situational awareness for *focus*ing on the screen, not for using a device. As an extra auditory alert, the sensors are just fine... but they do not, and should not replace situational awareness, which - IMHO - is what a back-up camera does.

How MANY kids? Is this really an event of epidemic proportions, such that new laws and new costs need to be put into place? Especially when that new device actually draws your attention AWAY from the real world and causes you to focus on a digital screen image?

Sorry it has happened to your family. But I don't tend to make decisions or form opinions based on anecdotal evidence and emotional arguments.

I think you should read my post that was right above your first one where I said that it shouldn't be required.