Reversing camera law gives 'false sense of security'

Safekids says reversing cameras are not foolproof. Photo / APN

US authorities are reportedly set to make reversing cameras mandatory on all new vehicles, but safety advocates here say the devices are only part of the solution for protecting children in driveways.

The New York Times said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is to announce later this week that automakers must put rear-view cameras in all passenger vehicles by 2014.

However the devices are expected to cost the auto industry as much as US$2.7 billion (NZ$3.2 billion) a year, or $US160 (NZ$190) to US$200 (NZ$238) a vehicle.

US authorities claim 95 to 112 deaths and 8,374 injuries could be prevented if the cameras were made compulsory. According to US Government figures state 228 people die - 44 percent under the age of five - as a result of being backed over by vehicles each year.

American safety advocates have welcomed the expected move. Janette Fennell, the founder of KidsAndCars.org, told the New York Times mandatory cameras were long overdue.

"We wouldn't buy a car if we couldn't see 30 or 40 feet going forward," Ms Fennell said. "We're taking this big lethal weapon going in reverse, and we can't see."

However New Zealand safety advocate Safekids said the cameras were not foolproof.
Director of Safekids, Ann Weaver, did not support the Government following suit here, saying the cameras risk putting people in a "false sense of security".

"Any tool that helps prevent any injuries will be useful," Ms Weaver said.

"[But] we would need to remind people is that they are not the solution. They are certainly an aid in child safety, in terms of identifying if there are children behind your car, but depending on the quality of the camera, whether or not they can see everything behind the car, there is always going to be some blind spot. [If] a child is sitting on the bumper, for example, the camera may not see that child."

Ms Weaver said if countries do make the cameras compulsory, more vehicles with the feature will trickle into the New Zealand market.

"We would still need to remind people that they are not the whole solution and they don't solve the whole problem.

"We know of instances where people have had cameras and they've still run over their children."

Drivers are reminded to check where their children are before driving away, supervise children around vehicles, and keep children from playing in driveways.

According to Safekids, five children die on average each year after being hit by a vehicle in a private driveway in New Zealand. Every fortnight a child is hospitalised with serious injuries in the same way. The bulk of children run over are toddlers aged about two.

Two children have been killed this year after being run over in driveways.

On January 24, three-year-old David Taliai was killed when he was hit in a driveway alongside a block of shops in Manurewa, and on February 17 a 13-month-old boy was killed after being run over in a residential Kaitaia driveway.

Consumer NZ Tips for reversing cameras:

* It's difficult for a driver to see children behind many modern cars and SUVs
* A reversing camera can help reduce the risk of a driveway run over, but they're not fool-proof
* Wired cameras are prefered as they tend to have better visibility and buy a camera with the "auto-start" feature
* Consider having it installed by a professional
* Find the best position for your screen and camera and keep the camera clean.
* Don't just rely on a camera. Remember: Check, supervise and separate