Government Backs Away From Mandatory Backup Cameras

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Feds delayed -again – a requirement for all new cars in the U.S. to be equipped with backup cameras, Bloomberg says. Regulators want time until 2015 to deliberate whether it might be better to simply give better safety ratings to vehicles with the gizmo.

The law had first been postponed in 2011, when the NHTSA needed time to sift through a flood of about 200 comments. The rule was then delayed a few times more.

Now the agency will look more into the cost of the rule. It is figured at $2.7 billion “or as much as $18 million per life saved,” (if, and only if, the moron that backs up without looking will now remember to look at the screen while backing up.)

Gizmo-makers in the greater Shenzhen, China, area, which were to profit from the ruling, could not be reached for comment.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • CelticPete CelticPete on Jun 21, 2013

    Having used a new car for a while with a backup camera it certainly makes driving easier and safer. That's a rare technological win - unlike say an automatic transmission which just makes it easier.

  • Onus Onus on Jun 21, 2013

    They need to require rear amber turn signal before they try this. Seriously, and NTHSA is slow!!! I looked on there websites and most of there initiatives are delayed due to lacking staff. All the more reason to ditch our own standards. At least the other regulation body in the word has enough people to get things done.

    • See 2 previous
    • Beerboy12 Beerboy12 on Jun 21, 2013

      Good point. In the fraction of a second i need to make decisions I never know if someone is hitting the breaks or turning...

  • Npaladin2000 Npaladin2000 on Jun 21, 2013

    They need to require cars with robotic metal hands. As soon as the driver tries to blame his accident on the lack of a backup camera, or a front camera, or an amber turn signal, or a robotic hedgehog, the robotic metal hand will proceed to extend and (w)itch-slap the offending idiot. That and mandate that people actually know how to drive before they get driver's licenses. Make everything else optional. The smart people will get what they need. The stupid people who don't know how to drive will quickly be killed on the road, and Darwin will leave us with a motoring paradise. [/TONGUE] [/CHEEK]

    • Tosh Tosh on Jun 21, 2013

      Even the smartest people can make mistakes. Anyway, that robotic hand you describe is called a 'lawyer,' and it comes into effect once your mistake is gross enough.

  • Redav Redav on Jun 21, 2013

    I would much prefer the feds mandate visibility instead of a camera.

    • See 3 previous
    • Summicron Summicron on Jun 22, 2013

      @Lie2me You got it... living life entirely from my nice, cool basement. Every 12 yr-old's dream come true.

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