The United States Transportation Department has recently added rearview cameras to its list of recommended safety features for automobiles.
According to the Transportation Department, 292 people are killed and 18,000 injured per year when drivers are backing up and fail to see an individual behind their vehicle. Rearview cameras should help to drastically cut the number of fatalities and injuries.
Interestingly, about 80% of the 2013 model vehicles include a rearview camera as either an optional or standard feature. This figure contrasts with 1% of vehicles offering rearview cameras in 2003.
Safety advocates have been urging the Transportation Department to require automobile manufacturers to install rearview cameras in all new vehicles. However, the Transportation Department is only recommending the cameras be installed.
Automakers argue that there’s a significant cost of installing rearview cameras and that the purchaser should have the option of whether or not to purchase a rearview camera. The average cost of purchasing a rearview camera is approximately $160-$200 per vehicle.
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