The Department of Transportation (DOT) in Washington, D.C. announced a new proposal in early December that would put a rule into effect that would require all new cars and light trucks to have back up camera systems by the year 2014. The camera systems would require a rear video camera and interior display to be installed in all new cars and light trucks. The camera systems would add about $200 to the total cost of a new vehicle. The new rule would require the camera systems to have a driver visual area of 20 feet to the rear and 20 feet wide.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that about 300 people are killed and another 18,000 injured a year due to back up accidents. If this new rule is implemented it would save anywhere between 95 to 112 deaths and nearly 7,000 injuries a year.
According to Ray LaHood, Secretary of the DOT, the changes would "help drivers see into those blind zones directly behind vehicles to make sure it is safe to back up."
Currently, about 20 percent of new vehicles come with an optional back up camera system. If the new rule is put into effect, the rule would have to be met by 10 percent of 2012 new vehicles and 40 percent of 2013s and all 2014s vehicles. The camera systems would be required in all new vehicles with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds.
The proposed camera system rule would become final after a 60 day public comment period.
