Approximately 292 fatalities and nearly 18,000 injures occur as a result of back-over crashes each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of the 292 fatalities, 228 of them were caused by vehicles weight less than 10,000 pounds.
According to DriveOn, the NHTSA is publishing a new rule that would require backup cameras on most cars and trucks. The feds have put off the publishing of this rule for 10 months now.
Boston personal injury lawyers urge you to practice cautious driving with or without a rear-view camera in your vehicle. We stress the importance of being aware of your surroundings while sitting behind the wheel.
Gentex, one backup camera supplier, said it could take a navigation system as long as 5 to 10 seconds “to display the rear view image depending on weather conditions,” said industry analyst Himanshu Patel at JP Morgan. These delay times may not be effective in preventing Boston parking lot accidents.
Backup cameras are available to drivers in numerous models, styles, sizes and prices. They’re available as center console television screens, tiny rearview mirror images or are even available in your sideview mirrors, They’re also available with night vision features. On many new cars they’re now coming as a standard feature.
“The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers — a lobbying group that represents the Detroit Three and other big players like Toyota, Mazda and Volkswagen — has opposed the regulation because it’s too costly,” says Kicking Tires. “If the rule is finalized, the backup cameras would cost the industry $1.9 billion to $2.7 billion annually, according to NHTSA.”
Backup cameras allow drivers to see beyond their line of site — helping save lives. The government finds their function to be so critical, they are going to continue to push to make them standard on all vehicles.
Contact the experienced injury attorneys at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers if you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Boston or the surrounding areas. Call (617) 777-7777 for a free and confidential appointment.