Each year over four hundred fatalities are caused by backup, or reversing, accidents. The majority of these fatalities are children, with seventy percent being completely avoidable accidents. What does “completely avoidable” mean? Your backup camera could save your child’s life, your neighbor’s life, or the life the stranger in the parking lot. A backup camera can be installed on a vehicle for less than the cost of a new cell phone. This is a small price to pay to save a life!
“My car already has a backup camera.”
It is hard to believe that a backup camera that is purchased aftermarket can be better than a camera system that was designed specifically for your car, but it does happen. Many of the backup cameras provided on today’s car models are exactly what you are looking for; they provide a clear picture, multiple angles, and provide you with distance information. But if you own, or are looking at purchasing, a vehicle that is a few years older, the backup camera provided will likely be lacking in technology, This means the camera provided will be less effective than a new camera purchased aftermarket.
Five points to consider when rating your vehicle’s backup camera:
- Is the picture sharp and clear at first glance?
- Can you tell what is in the picture shown?
- Can you tell how far away the object is?
- Are all of your vehicle’s blind spots covered with your camera?
- Does your camera work at night?
If your camera system is lacking in any of the five areas mentioned above, you should consider having an aftermarket system installed on your new vehicle. It defeats the purpose if you can’t tell what is behind you, if your blind spots aren’t included, or if your camera doesn’t work at night.
Isn’t having any backup camera better than not having one at all?
No, becoming too reliant on a unclear backup camera system can cause you to lessen the attention your other senses would otherwise alert you to; sort of like your brain being on auto pilot. Would you bet the life of your loved one based on the information your backup camera is providing you? If the answer is no, you need to seek an aftermarket alternative.
Automobile Backup Cameras:
Rear View Safety RVS-770613 Video Camera with 7.0-Inch LCD
This backup camera system is complete with a crystal clear 7″ DIGITAL TFT LCD color monitor with distance grid lines and mirror image capability, a 3 channel multiplexer (can connect a DVD player or other cameras) with automatic system switch, 130° SHARP CCD backup camera with 50 foot infra-red night vision and all the wires, connectors and mounts you will need. The rear view camera system is completely weather proof with an IP68 rating, strong and reliable, shock resistant, with a 20G vibration and 100G shock rating (highest in the industry), and comes with a full year warranty.
Falcon Zero by Incredisonic F-360 HD, Rear View Mirror Car DashCam,
DVR Accident Video Recorder, Dual-Camera 1080p HD
The IncrediSonic Falcon 360HD DVR not only has an excellent 1080p resolution camera, it has two cameras; and both are 180 degree rotatable with a whopping 120 degree viewing angle to ensure you have all angles covered to record. The viewing angles setups are literally endless; record the front and the back at the same time, record the side window and the front window, record super wide screen the front window by placing both cameras toward the front, etc. Loop recording ensures that you never will have to worry about space on your SD card as you set the time span you want the Falcon DVR to start recording again.
TaoTronics Car License Plate Frame Rear View Backup Camera
(170 Degree Wide Angle / Night Vision / Waterproof Metal Casing / Black)
Don’t leave safety to chances. The TaoTronics TT-CC17 license plate backup camera gives you a 170 degrees wide angle view of the area behind your vehicle, in clear, colored pictures with distance scale lines that tells you how far nearby objects are. The backup camera is housed inside a Zinc alloy case with IP67 waterproof rating to make sure it is working in windy, snowy and rainy days. 8 night vision IR LEDs are mounted along the camera, and provides extra visibility in darkness and low light conditions.
Being Alert to Avoid Preventable Accidents:
Beyond your backup camera, there are several additional steps you can take to avoid a reversing accident. Crack your windows and turn off/down your radio so you can hear what is around your vehicle, be alert to backup sensors, always ask passengers to take a look outside of vehicle and behind them, AND always proceed slowly when backing up.
Never forget that the life of your occupants, other drivers, and those that are near your vehicle, are in your hands anytime you are driving your car. Drive safe.