4 ms·

I think the screen is more or less mandatory because backup cameras are mandatory.

by fiddlerwoaroof 4y ago

_ea1k 4y ago
Yep, and touchscreens are vastly better with Android Auto.
- rblatz 4y ago
  I strongly disagree. My biggest issue with the Polestar was its jank android auto interface.
  - _ea1k 4y ago
    I think I worded that poorly. I meant that Android Auto with a touch screen is much better than Android Auto with buttons. Some Android Auto setups are bad either way, though, tbh.
amatecha 4y ago
What? Why/where are backup cameras mandatory? If you can't drive/park without assistive cameras you shouldn't have a drivers license, period.
- prpl 4y ago
  the US? Since like 2017 or earlier. They aren’t for parking, they are so people don’t run over toddlers when backing up
- foobarian 4y ago
  The United States for one (new cars only). Also: the backup camera is very nice. I can survive without one but it is oh so nice. I can hook up a hitch in one go.
- dwighttk 4y ago
  I've heard mandatory backup cameras have to do with the rear end collision safety ratings which seem to only be able to be passed by building up the back end of the car leaving a much bigger blind spot when you are backing up.
  - coredog64 4y ago
    Backup cameras were required because of a string of tragic “family member backs over own child in driveway” incidents. If it saves one life… and all that is easier to sell if it’s toddlers.
    - XorNot 4y ago
      Well, also they're cheap as hell and there's zero reason they shouldn't be in everything. Frankly I think all cars should come with those birdseye camera systems - it's 4 cameras and makes parallel parking a breeze.
    - dwighttk 4y ago
      Chicken or egg
- bckygldstn 4y ago
  The US and Canada since 2018. The EU since 2022 (for new models: existing models get until 2024)[1]. As for why in the US: literally too many kids being killed by their parents in SUVs and trucks [2]. [1] https://bmdv.bund.de/SharedDocs/EN/Articles/StV/Roadtraffic/new-vehicle-safety-systems.html https://bmdv.bund.de/SharedDocs/EN/Articles/StV/Roadtraffic/... [2] https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/110th-congress/senate-report/275/1 https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/110th-congress...
- ryukafalz 4y ago
  The auto industry is pushing ever larger SUVs, which often don't even have the sightlines in front of the vehicle to see a kid standing on the sidewalk in front of it. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/americas-cars-trucks-are-getting-bigger-are-front-blind-zones-children-rcna52109 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/americas-cars-trucks-ar...
  - amatecha 4y ago
    I feel like the solution to this would be to mandate a certain degree of visibility all around a vehicle. I mean, the backup camera on the vehicle I recently rented became borderline useless after a couple days, because of constant rainy weather ensuring the camera was always completely covered in dirt and mud. The image was like if you took a 160x120 photo and scaled it up and then applied some kind of "splatter dirt" filter on top. I just didn't even use it, because looking out the actual windows (like I always do) was more effective. If a vehicle is designed in such a way to literally not even allow proper visibility, that should exclude its acceptance onto the market.
    - ryukafalz 4y ago
      > If a vehicle is designed in such a way to literally not even allow proper visibility, that should exclude its acceptance onto the market. I mean, 100% agree on that. As for the usefulness of backup cameras... I don't have one myself but I've rented a few cars with them and they do give you significantly more visibility when backing up than the rear window can provide, even in a reasonably sized sedan. But sure, rain might interfere. I don't think the fact that it's not perfect means it's not useful.
      - brewdad 4y ago
        I have a VW Golf and they solved the rain problem by hiding the camera in the hatchback latch. It pops out when you need it and hides away behind the badge when you don’t. I haven’t priced out what replacing that little motor will cost someday.
- AlotOfReading 4y ago
  They're mandatory in the US, Europe, China and India for starters. At this point it's probably harder to find a country where they aren't. As for why, the safety data shows that cars with backup cameras are safer for the public than those without, same as seatbelts, airbags, or any number of other safety technologies. You shouldn't need any of them, but they're there to improve the situation when reality inevitably fails to meet our expectations.
- tshaddox 4y ago
  That’s just as ridiculous as saying headlights shouldn’t be required because you shouldn’t be driving somewhere where you can’t see the road clearly. The point is that the tech makes driving easier and safer and at some point the tech is stable enough that it makes sense to require it.
- lagadu 4y ago
  "Why do cars have seat belts? People should be able to drive without crashing!" Is what you just asked. Safety features are just that: they enhance passenger and pedestrian safety because humans make mistakes.
- bandyaboot 4y ago
  Also mirrors right? If you “can’t” drive without assistive mirrors, you shouldn’t have a driver’s license, period. In fact, anything mandated after the first Model T rolled off the line is dumb.

I think the screen is more or less mandatory because backup cameras are mandatory.

_ea1k 4y ago

Yep, and touchscreens are vastly better with Android Auto.

rblatz 4y ago
I strongly disagree. My biggest issue with the Polestar was its jank android auto interface.
- _ea1k 4y ago
  I think I worded that poorly. I meant that Android Auto with a touch screen is much better than Android Auto with buttons. Some Android Auto setups are bad either way, though, tbh.

amatecha 4y ago

What? Why/where are backup cameras mandatory? If you can't drive/park without assistive cameras you shouldn't have a drivers license, period.

prpl 4y ago
the US? Since like 2017 or earlier. They aren’t for parking, they are so people don’t run over toddlers when backing up
foobarian 4y ago
The United States for one (new cars only). Also: the backup camera is very nice. I can survive without one but it is oh so nice. I can hook up a hitch in one go.
dwighttk 4y ago
I've heard mandatory backup cameras have to do with the rear end collision safety ratings which seem to only be able to be passed by building up the back end of the car leaving a much bigger blind spot when you are backing up.
- coredog64 4y ago
  Backup cameras were required because of a string of tragic “family member backs over own child in driveway” incidents. If it saves one life… and all that is easier to sell if it’s toddlers.
  - XorNot 4y ago
    Well, also they're cheap as hell and there's zero reason they shouldn't be in everything. Frankly I think all cars should come with those birdseye camera systems - it's 4 cameras and makes parallel parking a breeze.
  - dwighttk 4y ago
    Chicken or egg
bckygldstn 4y ago
The US and Canada since 2018. The EU since 2022 (for new models: existing models get until 2024)[1]. As for why in the US: literally too many kids being killed by their parents in SUVs and trucks [2]. [1] https://bmdv.bund.de/SharedDocs/EN/Articles/StV/Roadtraffic/new-vehicle-safety-systems.html https://bmdv.bund.de/SharedDocs/EN/Articles/StV/Roadtraffic/... [2] https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/110th-congress/senate-report/275/1 https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/110th-congress...
ryukafalz 4y ago
The auto industry is pushing ever larger SUVs, which often don't even have the sightlines in front of the vehicle to see a kid standing on the sidewalk in front of it. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/americas-cars-trucks-are-getting-bigger-are-front-blind-zones-children-rcna52109 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/americas-cars-trucks-ar...
- amatecha 4y ago
  I feel like the solution to this would be to mandate a certain degree of visibility all around a vehicle. I mean, the backup camera on the vehicle I recently rented became borderline useless after a couple days, because of constant rainy weather ensuring the camera was always completely covered in dirt and mud. The image was like if you took a 160x120 photo and scaled it up and then applied some kind of "splatter dirt" filter on top. I just didn't even use it, because looking out the actual windows (like I always do) was more effective. If a vehicle is designed in such a way to literally not even allow proper visibility, that should exclude its acceptance onto the market.
  - ryukafalz 4y ago
    > If a vehicle is designed in such a way to literally not even allow proper visibility, that should exclude its acceptance onto the market. I mean, 100% agree on that. As for the usefulness of backup cameras... I don't have one myself but I've rented a few cars with them and they do give you significantly more visibility when backing up than the rear window can provide, even in a reasonably sized sedan. But sure, rain might interfere. I don't think the fact that it's not perfect means it's not useful.
    - brewdad 4y ago
      I have a VW Golf and they solved the rain problem by hiding the camera in the hatchback latch. It pops out when you need it and hides away behind the badge when you don’t. I haven’t priced out what replacing that little motor will cost someday.
AlotOfReading 4y ago
They're mandatory in the US, Europe, China and India for starters. At this point it's probably harder to find a country where they aren't. As for why, the safety data shows that cars with backup cameras are safer for the public than those without, same as seatbelts, airbags, or any number of other safety technologies. You shouldn't need any of them, but they're there to improve the situation when reality inevitably fails to meet our expectations.
tshaddox 4y ago
That’s just as ridiculous as saying headlights shouldn’t be required because you shouldn’t be driving somewhere where you can’t see the road clearly. The point is that the tech makes driving easier and safer and at some point the tech is stable enough that it makes sense to require it.
lagadu 4y ago
"Why do cars have seat belts? People should be able to drive without crashing!" Is what you just asked. Safety features are just that: they enhance passenger and pedestrian safety because humans make mistakes.
bandyaboot 4y ago
Also mirrors right? If you “can’t” drive without assistive mirrors, you shouldn’t have a driver’s license, period. In fact, anything mandated after the first Model T rolled off the line is dumb.