Backup Cameras Will Now Come Standard on All New Vehicles

Ten years in the making

In 2008, Congress passed a law that required all new cars sold in the US to come equipped with backup cameras. After a few years and more than a few setbacks, the Department of Transportation set the effective date: May 2018, a full decade after the law was initially passed. This means that, from here on out, every new car sold in America will come with a backup camera, something that was once considered a luxury item.

Backup cameras allow drivers to better check their blind spots whenever the car shifts into reverse. Even when the rear-view and side mirrors are correctly positioned, a driver might not be aware of something sitting in the large blind spot at the direct rear of the vehicle, which could lead to disaster.

In 2007, as many as 221 people were killed and 14,000 people were injured in non-traffic backover crashes. The NHTSA report also said that 78 percent of backover fatalities and 95 percent of backover injuries involved passenger cars. Children under 5 years old and adults over the age of 70 had an elevated risk of injury as a result of a backover in comparison with other age groups.

Don’t assume the driver can see you

Attorney Richard E. Lewis fully supports any measure that can help prevent backover accidents. However, even though all new cars will have backup cameras, the overwhelming majority of cars on the road still do not have this feature. Therefore, you can't assume that the driver of any vehicle can see directly behind the vehicle. Do not assume that the driver knows you are there, especially if you are in a place that is not directly visible to the driver. Spokane car accident attorneys have seen what can happen when drivers are unaware of something or someone in their blind spot.

Before you get in your car, check to ensure that the area behind it is clear. Rear- and side-view mirrors don’t catch everything. Taking a couple of extra seconds to check could save a life. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, contact Richard E. Lewis today. We will fight to get you the care and compensation you deserve after an accident.