The Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed new regulations forcing automobile manufacturers to progressively improve the rear visibility of their vehicles in the US.
The regulations would apply to most types of vehicles, including cars, trucks, minivans and buses. The automakers will have to improve the rear visibility of their vehicles according to the NHTSA’s requirements by 10% by September 2012, 40% by 2013 and 100% by 2014. The short time frame with which the manufacturers have to contend will probably result in them adding rear-view cameras on most of their new models, according to the NHTSA.
The American association has based its decision on the fact that new vehicles have larger pillars, higher belt lines and bigger rear fascias for both safety and aesthetic reasons. Statistically speaking, two thirds of reversing accidents in the US implicate children under five years of age and seniors over 70.
It will be interesting to see what kind of effect these regulations will have on Canadian vehicles and if the addition of rear-view camera technologies or the modification of vehicle profiles will have any true impact on prices and safety, both of the vehicles and the people around them.
Source: Consumer Reports
The regulations would apply to most types of vehicles, including cars, trucks, minivans and buses. The automakers will have to improve the rear visibility of their vehicles according to the NHTSA’s requirements by 10% by September 2012, 40% by 2013 and 100% by 2014. The short time frame with which the manufacturers have to contend will probably result in them adding rear-view cameras on most of their new models, according to the NHTSA.
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| Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com |
The American association has based its decision on the fact that new vehicles have larger pillars, higher belt lines and bigger rear fascias for both safety and aesthetic reasons. Statistically speaking, two thirds of reversing accidents in the US implicate children under five years of age and seniors over 70.
It will be interesting to see what kind of effect these regulations will have on Canadian vehicles and if the addition of rear-view camera technologies or the modification of vehicle profiles will have any true impact on prices and safety, both of the vehicles and the people around them.
Source: Consumer Reports