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> Backup cameras, mandatory on all new cars as of last year, are intended to prevent accidents. Between 2008 and 2011, the percentage of new cars sold with back

by bko 8y ago

> Backup cameras, mandatory on all new cars as of last year, are intended to prevent accidents. Between 2008 and 2011, the percentage of new cars sold with backup cameras doubled, but the backup fatality rate declined by less than a third while backup injuries dropped only 8 percent. I'm confused. It looks like back up cameras may help prevent accodents but not to some standard the author has for the technology. The author doesn't present any evidence that the tech is actually making us less safe, but it's still highly dependent on humans. So do away with it just because?

curlypaul924 8y ago
I suspect that backup cameras make the car less safe overall. The reason is that the image from a backup camera is displayed on a screen. Cars with backup cameras display information on the screen when the car is moving forward, which can distract the driver. I don't think that means we should do away with backup cameras, but I do think we need to consider the overall impact of a safety feature, not just statistics on scenarios that feature is intended to address.
- fyfy18 8y ago
  I have a car from 2010 with a backup camera. The screen can be used for navigation and radio control too. However if you turn it off, it stays off unless needed (e.g. you go into reverse or press a physical button to change something on the radio) and turns off again afterward. I agree that always on displays are distracting, especially at night. I prefer to drive with as little light as possible in the car.
- sfopdxnonstop 8y ago
  The comment you replied to cites stats showing increased safety with the cameras. What kind of personal values lead you to reply saying they are less safe? You should reexamine your motivations, you are promoting human suffering.
- sandworm101 8y ago
  Cameras today. Tomorrow they will remove the mirrors. Next to go are rear windows. Better fuel economy and cheaper production costs. It is a conspiracy, a public one.
- lostapathy 8y ago
  Maybe with an improperly installed aftermarket cam. Factory backup cameras only show the rear view when you actually are in reverse. I’ve never even seen a car that would let you turn it in when moving forward if you want to.
  - theluketaylor 8y ago
    There are a number of high end cars that let you control the cameras when moving forward. Range Rovers spring to mind where you can select from all the different cameras at anytime, including the reverse camera.
- greedo 8y ago
  Have you driven a car with a backup camera? All the ones I have shut off the camera view once you engage drive or shift into 1st. The only thing displayed on the screen at that point is navigation or entertainment stuff.
  - curlypaul924 8y ago
    I DD a car with a backup camera. It is the nav and entertainment stuff that I find distracting.
justin66 8y ago
The use of backup cameras has increased so much in the past eight years - after 2011, they went from being a luxury item to a standard feature - that the author's citation of that data is a little suspect.
Finnucane 8y ago
Also, I'm not sure why he's expecting a bigger drop in accidents when he knows that there are still a lot of cars on the road (such as the one he is sitting in) don't have this feature.
InTheArena 8y ago
I think that the whole issue here is the idea of exceptionalism. the Author doesn't believe that they are as bad as the average driver. Therefore things the author does is automatically safer than the average driver, because they do them, even though statistically technology is improving things. People made the same argument all the time about fly-by-wire on airplanes, on cars, etc. There are also compensating factors. We know that cell phones / tablets / etc are also factors. Yet these technologies blunt some of the negative outcomes introduced by other technologies. Tesla's autopilot is a great new technology. I don't trust it with my life - I keep my hands on the wheel and I monitor what the system is doing, but it keeps my car safe if i happen to get distracted, or if i don't see a car swerving into the lane.

by bko 8y ago

curlypaul924 8y ago

I suspect that backup cameras make the car less safe overall. The reason is that the image from a backup camera is displayed on a screen. Cars with backup cameras display information on the screen when the car is moving forward, which can distract the driver. I don't think that means we should do away with backup cameras, but I do think we need to consider the overall impact of a safety feature, not just statistics on scenarios that feature is intended to address.

fyfy18 8y ago
I have a car from 2010 with a backup camera. The screen can be used for navigation and radio control too. However if you turn it off, it stays off unless needed (e.g. you go into reverse or press a physical button to change something on the radio) and turns off again afterward. I agree that always on displays are distracting, especially at night. I prefer to drive with as little light as possible in the car.
sfopdxnonstop 8y ago
The comment you replied to cites stats showing increased safety with the cameras. What kind of personal values lead you to reply saying they are less safe? You should reexamine your motivations, you are promoting human suffering.
sandworm101 8y ago
Cameras today. Tomorrow they will remove the mirrors. Next to go are rear windows. Better fuel economy and cheaper production costs. It is a conspiracy, a public one.
lostapathy 8y ago
Maybe with an improperly installed aftermarket cam. Factory backup cameras only show the rear view when you actually are in reverse. I’ve never even seen a car that would let you turn it in when moving forward if you want to.
- theluketaylor 8y ago
  There are a number of high end cars that let you control the cameras when moving forward. Range Rovers spring to mind where you can select from all the different cameras at anytime, including the reverse camera.
greedo 8y ago
Have you driven a car with a backup camera? All the ones I have shut off the camera view once you engage drive or shift into 1st. The only thing displayed on the screen at that point is navigation or entertainment stuff.
- curlypaul924 8y ago
  I DD a car with a backup camera. It is the nav and entertainment stuff that I find distracting.

justin66 8y ago

The use of backup cameras has increased so much in the past eight years - after 2011, they went from being a luxury item to a standard feature - that the author's citation of that data is a little suspect.

Finnucane 8y ago

Also, I'm not sure why he's expecting a bigger drop in accidents when he knows that there are still a lot of cars on the road (such as the one he is sitting in) don't have this feature.

InTheArena 8y ago

I think that the whole issue here is the idea of exceptionalism. the Author doesn't believe that they are as bad as the average driver. Therefore things the author does is automatically safer than the average driver, because they do them, even though statistically technology is improving things. People made the same argument all the time about fly-by-wire on airplanes, on cars, etc. There are also compensating factors. We know that cell phones / tablets / etc are also factors. Yet these technologies blunt some of the negative outcomes introduced by other technologies. Tesla's autopilot is a great new technology. I don't trust it with my life - I keep my hands on the wheel and I monitor what the system is doing, but it keeps my car safe if i happen to get distracted, or if i don't see a car swerving into the lane.