Do I Really Need a Backup Camera?

Watch out!! Stop! Your child left their bike lying in the middle of the driveway again! Does this ever happen to you? In 2018, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) mandated that all new trucks, passenger cars, vans, and vehicles weighing under 10,000 pounds must come with a rearview monitoring system. Rearview monitoring systems have proven to increase safety, save you money, assist with parking and hookups, and eliminate the blind spot.

What Is a Rearview Monitoring System?

Image via Flickr by HighTechDad

A rearview monitoring system is a camera placed in the back of your vehicle with a screen on the dash for viewing. This camera is mounted in the rear so that you can see what’s behind your vehicle and in your blind spots. Before the rearview monitoring systems mandate, people had to physically turn their bodies to see what was behind them. However, the driver still could not see what was below the rear window. The rearview camera allows for better visibility and fewer blind spots.

The backup camera is a very sophisticated feature on your vehicle. Once your vehicle is in reverse, the camera turns on and communicates with your monitor. Most vehicles have this located on the dash, but  some vehicles have this image displayed in the rearview mirror. Showing the camera view in the rearview mirror keeps the driver using their mirror for added safety. The downfall of having the image here is that the picture’s quality is less clear, and it’s smaller.

As you begin to back up, the camera sends images to the monitor, and it mirrors the image for you. Otherwise, the image you’d see would make you maneuver your vehicle in the opposite direction. This is all to help with user-friendliness.

How Does a Reverse Monitoring System Increase Safety?

The backup camera will increase the overall safety of your vehicle. The camera allows you to see what is directly behind your vehicle and how close you are to objects back there. Having this feature decreases the likelihood of you backing over someone or something. The NHTSA estimates that nearly 200 people per year are killed in back-over accidents, and another 14,000 are injured. The backup camera is a real lifesaver.

How Does a Reverse Monitoring System Save You Money?

Every driver wants to save money, and rearview monitoring systems will do just that. The rearview monitoring system provides you with a clear image of what’s behind you, which means you can see how close you are to an object. This takes the guessing out of when you’ll bump into that vehicle crammed behind you. No more second-guessing how much closer you can get. By having this capability, it reduces the number of small fender benders and, of course, lower insurance premiums. Who knew such a small device could have such a big impact?

The backup camera also has the ability to record your movements as you back up. Having a recorded video could be vital if you’re hit when your vehicle is in reverse. This video clip becomes evidence for a police investigation. It also could be given over to your insurance company, providing them with evidence as well. That could result in saving you money by proving you weren’t at fault.

Using the Guidelines On Your Backup Camera

Do you live in a big city that’s jammed with people going everywhere? Finding that perfect fit parking spot can be challenging to locate. This can be an even bigger issue when parking is limited. Having a backup camera can take the stress out of being able to park your car in those tight spaces, leaving you more options when it comes to parking.

Rearview monitoring systems generally come equipped with on-screen guidelines. These lines will show you the angle at which your vehicle will move based on how you have your steering wheel turned. Not only will the guidelines ensure that you park correctly, but they’ll also alert you when you’re getting too close to an object.

The on-screen guidelines also do a fantastic job assisting you when trying to hook up to a trailer, boat, or camper. The camera gives you a visual of your hitch so that you can line up your vehicle correctly. It also allows you to determine how close you are to gauge when you have the hitch lined up with the ball. This saves you time and energy because it takes the guesswork out. It will also prevent you from backing into the trailer, boat, or camper, which could cause damage to either your vehicle or the object you’re towing.

Eliminating the Blind Spot With Your Backup Camera

When backing out of a parking spot, do you struggle to see what’s coming? How do you know what’s around that car parked next to you? The rearview monitoring system comes equipped with a wide-angle lens, eliminating 90% of your blind spot. This increases your visibility, allowing you to back out of places more safely.

The cameras also come with an alarm to alert you when something is approaching your vehicle or if you’re getting too close to an object. Not only do you get a clear picture of what’s behind you, but you are also alerted when an object is approaching. This could prevent you from backing out in front of someone or hitting a pedestrian that’s not in your field of vision.

A rearview monitoring system is a class act. It provides you with more confidence when having to drive your vehicle in reverse. These cameras increase your field of vision, decreasing the number of accidents you may have. This small feature installed on the rear of the vehicle has life-saving measures. If your rearview monitoring system is ever giving you trouble, if you have questions about the system, or if you’d like to have one installed on your current vehicle, give your friends at Stan McNabb Chevrolet a call. Our friendly staff would be happy to assist you with any of your vehicle needs.