The U.S Transportation Department are introducing a new rule that all US Cars should have installed rear-view cameras in an attempt to reduce the death toll caused by back-up accidents. Backup accidents involving light vehicles in the U.S cause around 210 deaths and 15,000 injuries each year and the victims are usually children or the elderly.

The new rule states that vehicles – including buses and trucks but motorbikes and trailers are exempt – manufactured on or after 1 May 2018 must be equipped with rear-view cameras that let drivers see a 10ft by 20ft zone directly behind the vehicle. The system must also meet other requirements including image size, linger time (between 4 and 8 seconds), response time (2 seconds after a car is put into reverse), durability, and deactivation.

Choosing the best car with the right camera: To ensure your safety we recommend that you choose a car with the most suitable rear-view camera. Most drivers will want their reversing camera to include a large display that clearly broadcasts images from behind the car. But many backup cameras show images on a tiny screen. Choosing a car with a larger screen maximizes the camera’s benefits. In addition, quality is a significant feature for a good reversing camera. When choosing a car equipped with a camera, check for a clear, sharp picture. Make sure you can distinguish between items behind the car, this will indicate whether the camera will be a good or bad investment.