Going through a car accident is a terrible experience. You can be seriously injured physically, emotionally, and financially. Fortunately, as technology has advanced, some car accidents have become less severe and have had smaller impacts on people’s lives. Advances like seat belts, airbags, car seats, and booster seats have saved countless lives. Now another feature that seemed at first to be merely for convenience is turning out to actually decrease the number of accidents occurring, and as a result it will become much more common. The technical name for this technology is “rear visibility technology” but it is what is commonly known as the backup camera.
NHTSA to Require Backup Cameras
The United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a rule last year that will require that all new vehicles under 10,000 pounds have “rear visibility technology” by May 2018. The reason for requiring this technology is that it has been found to substantially decrease the number of serious or fatal backover accidents that occur. Children and senior citizens are the most likely victims of this type of accident, so the injuries tend to be severe when these accidents occur. There are, on average, 201 fatalities and 15,000 injuries each year due to these accidents. Children make up 31 percent of those fatalities, and adults age 70 and older make up another 26 percent.
There is not an exact type of technology that will be required. However, whatever type of technology car manufacturers choose to use must enable the driver to detect the area behind the vehicle and it must create a field of view that includes a 10-foot by 20-foot zone directly behind the vehicle.
How Effective are These Cameras?
There are not many studies regarding the effectiveness of these cameras, but their usefulness is fairly self evident. After all, they allow a driver to see an area that he or she previously was not able to see. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recommends the technology because of its ability to eliminate accidents that have a high likelihood of severe injury or death. According to the agency, experimental studies have shown that these cameras reduce crashes in a collision trial by about 30 percent. According to NHTSA’s proposed rules it is estimated that the number of backover accidents could be reduced by as much as 46 percent if all vehicles had the technology. Drivers seem to love the technology, with 80 percent of those surveyed agreeing that it improves their safety and 96 percent saying the technology is easy to use. It is important to remember, however, that these cameras typically only work at certain speeds, and that drivers should continue to use their mirrors as well as the camera.
Call Naqvi Injury Law
When you are involved in a car crash the effects can be life altering. Medical bills, missed work, physical therapy, property damage, and other costs can combine in a crippling way. You may have a right to a financial recovery. That is why you should contact the experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at Naqvi Injury Law. When you call us at (702)553-1000 we will schedule a free consultation to discuss the details of your case and what we can do to help you.