5 ms·

At least in my car (2013 Chevy Volt), the backup camera is on an internal KVM-type switch. The moment I switch into reverse the camera forcibly takes over the

by tjohns 5y ago

At least in my car (2013 Chevy Volt), the backup camera is on an internal KVM-type switch. The moment I switch into reverse the camera forcibly takes over the infotainment screen. You can occasionally see the signal flicker when the switch happens. But also… a backup camera is hardly critical equipment. It’s there for situational awareness (and a good idea), but doesn’t replace the mirror. And since nobody drives in reverse at high speed, stopping is always an option if it malfunctions.

genocidicbunny 5y ago
On many newer cars, the backup camera is approaching critical equipment. With the rising safety standards, the visibility in cars, especially out the back, has gone down significantly. Incidentally, this is very apparent on the Mazdas that I've owned. My old old Protege had good visibility out the back, an early 10's 3 had passable visibility out the back, and the now handful-of-years-old 6 has atrocious visibility out the back, to the point where more than half the field of view is obscured.
- kortilla 5y ago
  That’s still not critical. The backup camera is not used as a rear view mirror replacement and the ability to back up, let lone back up safely, is not required for safe operation of the vehicle. Brakes are critical, steering is critical. Reverse and everything that entails is not.
  - ipython 5y ago
    Backup cameras are great for avoiding things low to the ground but do give a false sense of security. I managed to back into a fan box at about head level in a parking garage because I became too reliant on the camera alone. If I had turned around to look behind me I could have avoided a thousand dollar repair.
  - alamortsubite 5y ago
    > Brakes are critical, steering is critical. Reverse and everything that entails is not. The statistic is that every year, in the U.S. alone, over 2000 kids are run over by vehicles reversing. I had to read what you wrote a half-dozen times, but in hindsight the dissonance makes perfect sense.
    - kortilla 5y ago
      > The statistic is that every year, in the U.S. alone, over 2000 kids are run over by vehicles reversing. That’s nothing. 10k a year die from speeding.
  - thrwyoilarticle 5y ago
    Rear view mirrors aren't critical. Vans don't have them.
  - nix9000 5y ago
    Federal law in the US considers backup cameras critical enough to mandate them in all new vehicles since 2018, with penalty for non-compliance. I think that take precedence over your idiosyncratic definition of what is critical.
    - jtbayly 5y ago
      Federal law also requires manufacturers to use too little water in all your home appliances. That’s clearly not “critical.” Edit: I really don’t understand why I’m getting downvotes on this. Is it because people are so glad the federal government is in their bathroom making these “critical” decisions for you? My point is that the federal government makes all kinds of decisions that are obviously not “critical,” and that includes in the auto industry.
      - pessimizer 5y ago
        Because we have to agree on some authority, and almost everyone is going to prefer the government's authority to yours.
        jtbayly 5y ago
        I’m not trying to get any authority nor questioning the government’s authority. You are saying that every law the federal government has passed is critical?
      - aksss 5y ago
        y'all are just arguing semantics. The camera is "critical" to manufacturers by definition because it's the subject of regulatory compliance - it's a must have for the manufacturer to clear a gate. We also know that people have been driving in all sorts of conditions and in all sizes of cars without backup cameras for decades upon decades and cameras are obviously not critical to the act of driving the vehicle. They undeniably help: the field of view is often wider than your mirrors, you can drive backwards at high speed while ducking to avoid bullets, You can see directly behind the bumper of your car to wedge yourself into tighter parking spots and avoid backing over tiny people, etc. I don't believe a functional backup camera is required to resell the vehicle. If you never learned to drive without a backup camera, it may be more "critical" to you individually. Emissions systems are a completely different story. Critical to manufacturer and required for resale of the vehicle (technically critical to owner), though who's going to check for that $400 bypass kit? ;)
  - genocidicbunny 5y ago
    In the vast majority of the US, being able to safely back up _is_ required for the safe operation of a vehicle. I recall my drivers license test included a driving-in-reverse section. You will also frequently need to be able to back out of a parking spot, or a driveway. Even if its not critical, its as close to critical as can be. When your rear view mirror and your side mirrors combined cannot give you enough visibility to safely back up, a rear-view camera quickly becomes critical.
galangalalgol 5y ago
The geekwire article confirms it is disabling the backup camera and gps nav. You can only listen to npr while it boot-loops.
- morpher 5y ago
  My Seattle Mazda was hit by this bug. The backup camera still functions for the most part, although it does flicker and occasionally blank for a second or two (presumably while the system reboots). Annoying, but not horrible.
tremon 5y ago
And since nobody drives in reverse at high speed That's my cue ;) The Netherlands used to have national championships reverse driving for many years on the official race track at Zandvoort (part of the Formula 1 circuit). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn-v2pLBx_s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn-v2pLBx_s
koz1000 5y ago
The backup camera isn't critical, but it's been required in the USA since 2018. https://www.fleetowner.com/safety/article/21687582/nhtsa-to-mandate-rear-cameras-in-light-vehicles-by-2018 https://www.fleetowner.com/safety/article/21687582/nhtsa-to-...

by tjohns 5y ago

genocidicbunny 5y ago

On many newer cars, the backup camera is approaching critical equipment. With the rising safety standards, the visibility in cars, especially out the back, has gone down significantly. Incidentally, this is very apparent on the Mazdas that I've owned. My old old Protege had good visibility out the back, an early 10's 3 had passable visibility out the back, and the now handful-of-years-old 6 has atrocious visibility out the back, to the point where more than half the field of view is obscured.

kortilla 5y ago
That’s still not critical. The backup camera is not used as a rear view mirror replacement and the ability to back up, let lone back up safely, is not required for safe operation of the vehicle. Brakes are critical, steering is critical. Reverse and everything that entails is not.
- ipython 5y ago
  Backup cameras are great for avoiding things low to the ground but do give a false sense of security. I managed to back into a fan box at about head level in a parking garage because I became too reliant on the camera alone. If I had turned around to look behind me I could have avoided a thousand dollar repair.
- alamortsubite 5y ago
  > Brakes are critical, steering is critical. Reverse and everything that entails is not. The statistic is that every year, in the U.S. alone, over 2000 kids are run over by vehicles reversing. I had to read what you wrote a half-dozen times, but in hindsight the dissonance makes perfect sense.
  - kortilla 5y ago
    > The statistic is that every year, in the U.S. alone, over 2000 kids are run over by vehicles reversing. That’s nothing. 10k a year die from speeding.
- thrwyoilarticle 5y ago
  Rear view mirrors aren't critical. Vans don't have them.
- nix9000 5y ago
  Federal law in the US considers backup cameras critical enough to mandate them in all new vehicles since 2018, with penalty for non-compliance. I think that take precedence over your idiosyncratic definition of what is critical.
  - jtbayly 5y ago
    Federal law also requires manufacturers to use too little water in all your home appliances. That’s clearly not “critical.” Edit: I really don’t understand why I’m getting downvotes on this. Is it because people are so glad the federal government is in their bathroom making these “critical” decisions for you? My point is that the federal government makes all kinds of decisions that are obviously not “critical,” and that includes in the auto industry.
    - pessimizer 5y ago
      Because we have to agree on some authority, and almost everyone is going to prefer the government's authority to yours.
      - jtbayly 5y ago
        I’m not trying to get any authority nor questioning the government’s authority. You are saying that every law the federal government has passed is critical?
    - aksss 5y ago
      y'all are just arguing semantics. The camera is "critical" to manufacturers by definition because it's the subject of regulatory compliance - it's a must have for the manufacturer to clear a gate. We also know that people have been driving in all sorts of conditions and in all sizes of cars without backup cameras for decades upon decades and cameras are obviously not critical to the act of driving the vehicle. They undeniably help: the field of view is often wider than your mirrors, you can drive backwards at high speed while ducking to avoid bullets, You can see directly behind the bumper of your car to wedge yourself into tighter parking spots and avoid backing over tiny people, etc. I don't believe a functional backup camera is required to resell the vehicle. If you never learned to drive without a backup camera, it may be more "critical" to you individually. Emissions systems are a completely different story. Critical to manufacturer and required for resale of the vehicle (technically critical to owner), though who's going to check for that $400 bypass kit? ;)
- genocidicbunny 5y ago
  In the vast majority of the US, being able to safely back up _is_ required for the safe operation of a vehicle. I recall my drivers license test included a driving-in-reverse section. You will also frequently need to be able to back out of a parking spot, or a driveway. Even if its not critical, its as close to critical as can be. When your rear view mirror and your side mirrors combined cannot give you enough visibility to safely back up, a rear-view camera quickly becomes critical.

galangalalgol 5y ago

The geekwire article confirms it is disabling the backup camera and gps nav. You can only listen to npr while it boot-loops.

morpher 5y ago
My Seattle Mazda was hit by this bug. The backup camera still functions for the most part, although it does flicker and occasionally blank for a second or two (presumably while the system reboots). Annoying, but not horrible.

tremon 5y ago

And since nobody drives in reverse at high speed That's my cue ;) The Netherlands used to have national championships reverse driving for many years on the official race track at Zandvoort (part of the Formula 1 circuit). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn-v2pLBx_s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn-v2pLBx_s

koz1000 5y ago

The backup camera isn't critical, but it's been required in the USA since 2018. https://www.fleetowner.com/safety/article/21687582/nhtsa-to-mandate-rear-cameras-in-light-vehicles-by-2018 https://www.fleetowner.com/safety/article/21687582/nhtsa-to-...