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Resources for the Washington DC area |
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Tragically, hundreds of children are struck by vehicles backing up when the driver couldn't see the child. SUVs present a particular concern because of the limited rear visibility. According to the Department of Transportation, 27% of all accidents occur in reverse. Consumer Reports found that some vehicle drivers couldn't see a cone placed behind a vehicle that was as far as 47 feet behind the vehicle. New vehicles are more often offering either backup cameras either as standard equipment or as an option. But aftermarket cameras are available for people who already own an SUV without a camera. These are available from specialty companies, or in some cases, from the car manufacturer. The camera's display may be on a replacement rear view mirror, or tie into the screen used by the vehicles navigation system. Often the camera itself is embedded in a rear license plate frame, so it's pretty unobtrusive. Backup warning systems use a detection system, such as ultrasonic sound, to detect an object behind a vehicle when it's backing up. They then give an audible warning.
Resources: Kids and Cars.org: a great central information source A good article listing lots of manufacturers
Manufacturers:
November 2005 |
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© 2002 - 2005 David Walls. All rights reserved.