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by chrisseaton 1691 days ago
Unless you have a three-metre articulated neck you are not going to be able to get your head out the car and round the back to see right behind your own car while driving it - I can't believe people aren't aware they have blind spots there? That's how small children get run over.

Why do you think they made backup cameras mandatory? Why do you think they believe they save lives?
2 comments
dafoex 1691 days ago
Who made them mandatory? When and where? You have other blind spots, too, and manufacturers know that relying on a camera makes drivers neglect their other blind spots - Skoda cars even pop up a toast notification saying "Look around, is it safe to move?" to try and discourage lazy drivers thinking the computer is a replacement for a brain.

But all this feels like a moot point, anyway. I understood the main argument to be advocating the use of physical controls, not the removal of safety sensors and cameras.

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chrisseaton 1691 days ago
> Who made them mandatory?

US, Canada, EU (I think they allow an alternative 'detection system'), possibly others.

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nzmsv 1691 days ago
I'll be another voice so that it's not just Chris :)

Backover accidents are real. Cameras help a lot. Arguments about "but they are not in all cars" forget that seatbelts, airbags, and ABS were also once in that category.

If you are worried about drivers not being hardcore enough and relying too much on cameras: do you know how to use a choke? What about a crank start? An unsynchronized gearbox?

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totalZero 1690 days ago
Your last line reminds me of Dom Toretto. "Granny shifting, not double clutching like you should..."
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nzmsv 1690 days ago
Yup. I have never driven a car where you have to double-clutch but I know they exist. Most people probably don't even know this and yet are still good drivers. They get out of driving what they want to get out of it. Not everyone has to drive a vintage car to be called a driver.

(And yes, I know, also trucks)

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throwaway0a5e 1690 days ago
I hope you spend a very, very, long time wearing a next brace as the result of reversing into traffic. It would be fitting. Cameras have blind spots too. They're just different ones.
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