Every driver on the road is someone’s beloved family member or friend. Today, vehicle manufacturers are working to create safety technologies that keep you, and the people you care about, safer on the road. Recent developments in vehicular safety have proven particularly effective. Backup cameras, capable of warning drivers of a potential rear collision before it happens, are quickly becoming an industry standard in safety. How Backup Cameras Work Backup cameras, officially referred to as rearview video systems (RVS) are designed to prevent rear vehicular collisions by providing an image of the area directly behind the vehicle to the driver. When a driver shifts their vehicle into reverse, the RVS displays a live image on the dashboard or small rearview mirror screen. The field of view includes a 10 by 20 foot area directly behind the vehicle, which is normally completely invisible to the driver. Minimizing Blind Zones The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) estimates that 292 people are killed and 18,000 left injured each year by drivers who back into them, usually in driveways or parking lots. Young children and elderly adults make up the bulk of the victims. Unsurprisingly, sports utility vehicles and pickup trucks are involved in more rear collisions than smaller cars due to their larger blind zones. An IIHS study was conducted with 111 participants driving a high-volume midsize SUV. A child-size crash-test dummy was put in the vehicle’s backing path after the participants were told to reverse out of a parking spot. In some cases, the dummy was stationary behind the vehicle, while in other cases it moved into the vehicle's path from the driver's side. Few drivers hit the moving child, but nearly four times as many participants hit the stationary hazard. With RVS and collision sensors added to the SUV, many drivers still crashed into the stationary test-child. However, participants using solely the backup camera were the most successful at avoiding collision, more than even the camera and sensor system combined. The Future of Safety Many of today’s manufacturers are taking full advantage of this and other safety technologies. Honda’s rearview camera system even offers three different viewing angles (normal, top-down and wide) to maximize the driver’s field of view and further decrease the chance of an unfortunate collision. The technology has proven so effective that, by May 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will require its installation on all new cars for sale, regardless of make or model. Safety and Technology at Honda of Seattle At Honda of Seattle, we’re dedicated to giving back and supporting the community. It is our goal to help each and every driver find the best and most safe car, truck or SUV for their needs. With low finance rates and no hidden fees, you can be sure you’re getting a new or pre-owned vehicle for the best price. Contact us online today or visit in-person for more information.