The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will soon require that all new passenger cars be equipped with a rearview camera system. The equipment is intended to prevent back-over accidents by alerting drivers when pedestrians are behind the vehicles. Under a law passed in 2008, the NHTSA has until early 2011 to issue a rule to be phased-in by 2014.
The NHTSA has issued a proposed rule that would set performance requirements to be achieved but allow manufacturer discretion when selecting the video camera system. The specialty-equipment market has been at the forefront of offering cameras and sensors to address the issue. For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein stuartg@sema.org.